A Ganesh puja pandal in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 10: Huge pandals and colourful light decorations are dotted all across the capital, as the festive zeal of Ganesh Puja has gripped the citizens.

There is an implicit competition going on among Puja committees, clubs and associations have who have sworn to have the celebrations as grandly as possible.

As there are more than 200 pandals across the city — those that have been observing Ganesh puja for years now and the upcoming ones — people are very enthusiastic about the festivities.Unusual themes and innovative ideas are the highlights of this year’s pandals also known as gates. Elements such as plaster of Paris, straw, cloth and others are being used to build the pandals at different localities. The gates are always made attractive and very far above the ground.

The local committees have employed craftsmen from Cuttack, Calcutta, Barang and others. “We had a big budget for this year’s Ganesh Puja and will have a seven day celebration with attractive light and sound,” says Biswajit Ray, president of Shahid Club in Shahid Nagar that has been holding the festival since 1973.

The gate here is crafted in the shape of a biota or an ancient Oriya trader’s boat that bears a huge tower like structure on it. Craftsmen from Calcutta’s Shantimayi decorators have created this 90 ft structure that is housing a 14ft Ganesha idol.

The puja committee at the housing board square have built an arch akin to the design of a Rath for the deity.

The fish traders of Unit 4 market have also made an innovative temple shaped arch. Members of both Hindu and Muslim communities celebrate the festival together here. Ushaloka Puja Committee of Master Canteen, that has been celebrating Ganesh puja since 1969 also has a huge pandal this year and will be organising a musical programme by blind musicians on September 18.

There is a tremendous emphasis on the lighting decorations. The Bomikhal committee in particular has designed its gate like a Shimla hill station with a string of trendy lights arranged at stretch.

“With the number pandals and its beautification increasing every year, there’s a mood of celebration in the air,” says Bibhu Mohanty, a college student. Although the police have allowed the sound level only up to 65 decibles, the committees are ready to regale the visitors with musical programmes of bhajan samarohs and soirees.

Since different puja committees have fixed the date of immersion of idols on different days, the cultural programmes too vary for each of them. While music composer and singer Manmath Mishra will be singing at the bhajan samaroh in Shahid Nagar on September 14 and 15, singer Arabinda Muduli will be performing at Bomikhal on September 12. Musical groups from Cuttack, Calcutta and Western Orissa will be performing at various places across the city within the next week on the occasion.