Cuttack, Bhubaneswar observe low-key immersion of Durga idols

Expressing empathy with the people battered by back-to-back twin furies of Cyclone Phailin and severe floods, Puja committees of Cuttack and the state capital here today observed a low-key immersion of Durga idols.
Shunning lavish expenditures, which are integral to the festival, Puja committees took out their tableaus after the Bijoya Dasami on Monday and immersed the clay idols without much fanfare.
Many committees even did not go to the Devi Gada, on the bank of river Kathjodi for immersion and completed the ritual at nearby water bodies.
Since river Kathjodi is now full to its brink due to the floods, district administration has deployed teams to meet any eventuality.

Meanwhile, Puja committees in the city have decided to contribute to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The Barabati Sarbadharma Sanskrutika Parishad, which organises the 'Ravan Podi' in a grand style every year, has suspended the ritual for the year.
"In view of the cyclone and floods, we have suspended the ritual this year and have decided to contribute Rs 8 lakh to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," said parishad president Asirbad Behera in a release.
Many Puja committees have also decided to contribute to the fund after the immersion ritual, said Mahanagar Peace Committee secretary Bhikari Das.