Preparations are in full swing for Gajalakshmi Puja across Odisha today, with Dhenkanal gearing up for 10 days of festivities. This year, 41 puja pandals across Dhenkanal will worship Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. Thousands of devotees are expected to visit the town to witness the elaborate decorations and celebrations.Police have stepped up security arrangements, focusing on crowd control, traffic management and public safety in view of the large crowds and increased vehicle movement.With lakhs of devotees expected to visit the pandals, police have prioritised crowd management, traffic regulation and public safety. A total of 24 platoons of police personnel and 145 officers, ranging from Additional Superintendents of Police to Assistant Sub-Inspectors, will be deployed during the celebrations.Dhenkanal Superintendent of Police Ajinkya B. Mane said that the deployment has been planned to manage the movement of both people and vehicles.“Considering the movement of crowds and vehicles, we are deploying 24 platoons of police personnel and 145 officers, from Additional SP to ASI rank. Home Guards, OR Constables, APR personnel and other staff will also be deployed to ensure smooth management of the celebrations,” he said.As part of the security preparations, police have already conducted a flag march through the town. The march covered the route from the SP’s office through Ganesh Bazaar to Baji Chowk in the main market area…
October 25, 2026
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