Jatni wears a bridal look

JATNI: It’s celebration time again with the town all set for the 11-day Ganesh puja, beginning Thursday. Thousands of people from across the State converge here to witness the annual festival.Every year, the small town of Jatni wears a bridal look with the arrival of Lord Ganesh. The incessant rain and the prices of essential commodities will not dampen the spirit of Ganesh puja here. One among the few places in the country where ‘Bappa’ is worshipped for 11 days, people are all set to celebrate the festival on a grand scale.The history of Ganesh puja here dates back to more than a century, when one Dinabandhu Sahoo, a small time shop owner, placed a clay idol of the Lord and began worshipping it. The grandeur of the festival increased with the passage of time.As many as 50 Ganesh pandals came up at important market places along with more than 200 small idols worshipped at private places.Though not like in Mumbai, Ganesh puja is celebrated here on a massive scale. The special feature of the festival includes 60 to 70 feet high gates and 16 feet high Ganesh idols. These are built either by famous artisans from Kolkata and Cuttack or those in the town.Huge Ganesh idols have been put up at Harivaina Chhaka, Mahulgudia Chhaka, Thana Chhaka, Sitaram Chhaka, Raja Bazar, Golei Market, Bada Bazar, Fish Market, Hata Bajar, Kudiary Bazar, Hospital square, Malgodown Square, Retang Colony, Loco Colony,  Station Square, Accounts Colony and Traffic Colony.It is also the time for the artistes from opera and pala groups to earn a fast buck.  They converge here during this time and are on high demand. Of over 50 puja pandals, Golei Market, Malgodown Square, Kudiary Bazar and Raja Bazar and Sitaram Chhaka are crowd-pullers for their beautiful illumination, majestic look, gorgeously decorated idols and best gate-way to the pandal. Away from the din is Haribhaina Chhaka puja committee which has maintained the 51-year-old tradition of organising ‘pala’ on  all the 11 days. They celebrate the puja with a huge idol of Lord Ganesh sans any attractive gate. This apart, meena bazaars, circus and ‘bhajan sandhyas’ are organised by the committees. All the idols are assembled on the ‘Melan’ ground from where they move towards the nearby Daya river for immersion on full moon day.