Security personnel in Cuttack to maintain law and order during Durga Puja. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Oct. 10: Gold and silver backdrops, better known as medha, have skyrocketed Puja budgets here this year.

The Choudhury Bazar Puja Committee has spent about Rs 80 lakh on an “Om” insignia of gold on the crest of the silver filigree backdrop — locally called chandi medha — and gold necklace for the other deities this year. With this, the budget for this year’s puja has climbed to Rs 5.45 crore.

“Around 2kg of gold was used to mould the Om emblem, while another 600 grams of gold was used for the necklaces of Ganesh and Kartik,” said craftsman Biswa Nath Dey of Shaikh Bazar. “About 15.5kg gold was used for a crown, necklaces and other jewelleries of the goddess and other deities,” he said.

There has been an increase in the use of gold since the Choudhury Bazar Puja Mandap came up with a crown made of gold for the goddess on the occasion of its golden jubilee in 2002. Taking the cue from Choudhury Bazar, the Shaikh Bazar Puja Committee had replaced silver with gold for the crown of the goddess at its mandap in 2005. The committee has since added gold jewelleries for the goddess and crowns of gold for the other deities. The Chauliaganj Puja Committee started making a gold crown for the goddess at its mandap in 2007. A crown moulded out of more than 3kg gold in the form of dancing peacock replaced the silver crown of the goddess.

Choudhury Bazar had started converting some parts of the chandi medha in its mandap into gold in 2008. So far, five of the 30 odd silver segments of the chandi medha have been replaced. About 5.5kg of gold has been used in the process.

In 2010, Mangalabag came up with a 2.5kg gold crown for the goddess, while another 2.5kg gold was used for the crowns of the other deities. Mangalabag was the city’s first Puja committee to have a crown of gold for the goddess.

Choudhury Bazar Puja Mandap was the star attraction for visitors during Dussehra in the city for its unparallel chandi medha works since 1956.

Balasore traffic

Police have imposed restrictions in Balasore town for five days from tomorrow to ensure smooth traffic flow during Durga Puja.

No vehicle, rickshaw or bullock cart will be allowed to ply from Cinema Square to Town Police station and from there to Golapokhari Square. No lanes connecting Motiganj market will be open to traffic. Also, no vehicle will be allowed to ply from Fakir Mohan Circle to Naya Bazar, Fandi Square and the district collectorate during these five days.

On the day of Mahastami (Sunday), the road connecting Matha Sahi and Mahabir Mandir will be closed from 7am till display of the Virastami akhada (martial art) is over. Entry of heavy vehicles to the town will remain prohibited during the Puja days.