Kendrapada: A Vishwakarma puja committee in Paradip has created a puja pandal depicting the massive glacier and ice-rock collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border on Aug 26, which triggered catastrophic flash floods and mudflows. “Artists used eight quintals of sand to create models of the Himalayas and depict floods, landslides and rescue operations involving helicopters,” said Ranjan Das, president of Viswakarma Puja committee in Bada Bazaar, Paradip.The pandal depicts floods, landslides and rescue operations involving helicopters, besides the devastation caused by flash floods following a glacier fracture on Mount Langtang Lirung. The floods swept away homes and infrastructure across northern Nepal. Another puja committee in the port town has also portrayed scenes depicting the devastating floods. The week-long Vishwakarma Puja festivities began in Paradip on Thursday, with dazzling illuminations. Around 34 puja committees have decorated and illuminated idols of Lord Vishwakarma and images at various puja mandaps.Paradip, an industrial and port hub, is home to several factories, including two fertiliser plants, two carbon plants, an oil refinery, a steel plant and numerous small-scale industrial units. Vishwakarma Puja, dedicated to Lord Vishwakarma, the principal architect and creator in Hindu mythology, is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the town. Large numbers of devotees visited the puja venues during the morning to offer prayers to Lord Vishwakarma, regarded as the deity of craftsmen and architects.The cost of organising the festival has increased this year due to rising expenditure on raw materials used to builld pandals. “Some pandal lighting decorators are charging between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh for elaborate lighting arrangements,” said Ratnakar Rout, a puja committee member. The festival will conclude on Sept 24 with the immersion of idols. Steps have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply to puja mandaps at night so that devotees can visit the venues.Several committees have decided to use environment-friendly idols, said Basant Biswal, chairperson of Paradip municipality. “We have deployed 11 platoons of police at strategic points in the town and near all puja pandals for the safety and security of visitors. Temporary police outposts have also been opened at six places,” said IIC, Paradip police station, Babita Deuri.
