Cuttack, Nov. 14: Over a lakh people bid adieu to Goddess Kali here this evening, with the immersion ceremony taking place peacefully amid tight security.

The puja committees took the idols in a procession to the Kathajodi river bed near Devigada at Purighat, where they were immersed at three temporary ponds dug especially for the occasion. By 6pm, more than 20 idols had been immersed.

"The JCB machines (excavators), along with sanitary staff members, have been engaged for immediate post-immersion clearance from the ponds and dumping at a separate place. The debris would be taken away and disposed of at the dumping yard," municipal commissioner Gyana Das said.

This year, around 70 pujas had been organised in the city.

"While four of the idols were immersed yesterday, that of rest of the idols is expected to be over before tomorrow morning," said secretary of the Cuttack Mahanagar Puja Committee Bhikari Das.

The 60-decibel sound restriction and the seizure of loudspeakers during Ganesh Puja forced most of the committees to opt for traditional instruments during the immersion ceremony.

"Apart from one band using sound limiters, we decided to promote traditional instruments and groups during the immersion ceremony. It is a good trend that several committees are adhering to the sound pollution norms," said president of the Bakhrabad Puja Committee Jaydip Pal.

Police had deployed 55 platoons for the immersion ceremony.

"Elaborate security arrangements have been made, along with deployment of around 200 officers, to ensure peaceful completion of the immersion ceremony. As part of the precautionary measures, closed-circuit television cameras have been installed at prime locations on the main thoroughfare (the traditional immersion route)," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.