Bhubaneswar, Oct. 20: Lakhs of devotees and revellers thronged pandals across the state today to pay obeisance to Goddess Durga on Maha Saptami, the first day of the Puja.

The weather did not play spoilsport and remained pleasant throughout the day helping revellers to go pandal-hopping.

The Durga Puja festivities in the last two years had been marred by Cyclone Phailin and Cyclone Hudhud.

This year, 158 pujas are being held in Cuttack, while more than 100 are being held in Bhubaneswar.

Tight security arrangements have been made in Cuttack, where silver filigree work, popularly known as chandi medha, is on display at 21 puja pandals.

Besides, in another dozen puja pandals, the idol of Goddess Durga has been adorned with gold ornaments.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in major puja pandals in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to keep tabs on troublemakers, police commissioner R.P. Sharma said.

"No major crime has been reported so far in the twin cities during Durga Puja this year," said Sharma.

Women police in plain clothes have been deployed near crowded puja pandals to keep watch on eve-teasers and pickpockets, said a senior police officer.

This year government employees are happy as they have almost a week's holiday. The government had cancelled their holidays the last two years in view of cyclones. The government's announcement of a six per cent hike in their dearness allowance has added more sweetness to their Puja celebrations.

Heavy rush of devotees was also witnessed in various traditional Shakti shrines such as Chandi temple in Cuttack, Charchika temple in Banki, Bhagabati temple in Banpur, Manikeswari temple in Bhawanipatna and Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur. Animals and birds were slaughtered at various places across the state, including Bhawanipatna.

At Berhampur, which was devastated by cyclone Phailin in 2013, there are 30 Puja pandals. The pandals at Goilundi Square and Janana Hospital Square were relocated to tackle traffic problems.

Berhampur superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi said two additional platoons of police force were requisitioned to maintain law and order and traffic.

In Sambalpur, Durga Puja is being celebrated in 64 pandals. Massive structures fitted with multi-coloured lights in different patterns from Titanic Ship to the Statue of Liberty stand tall along the road, adding to the Puja mood.