By Our Correspondent
KENDRAPADA/BHUBANESWAR:The successful and peaceful conclusion of the historic Lakshmi Puja celebrations and immersion procession in Kendrapara has demonstrated the importance of public cooperation, effective administration and people-friendly policing. Dr Satyajit Nayak, IPS, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Central Range, Cuttack, has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Kendrapara, the district administration, police administration, puja committees, volunteers and all stakeholders for their cooperation in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the celebrations. Kendrapara, renowned for its grand Maa Gajalaxmi Puja, witnessed enormous religious enthusiasm and public participation during the festival, which holds a special place in the cultural and spiritual identity of the district.
This year’s celebrations were particularly significant as the town marked the centenary of its Lakshmi Puja tradition. With 68 decorated puja Medhas in Kendrapara town and numerous celebrations in surrounding areas, the festival attracted thousands of devotees. Considering the large gatherings and the scale of the immersion procession and Melana, elaborate security arrangements were made through close coordination between the district administration and police administration. More than 30 platoons of police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order, regulate traffic and ensure the safety of devotees. Senior police officers, magistrates and other officials were assigned responsibilities at important locations, while mobile patrol teams, CCTV surveillance, traffic management and special security arrangements were put in place to prevent any untoward incident.
IGP Dr Satyajit Nayak and Kendrapara SP Siddharth Kataria personally supervised the security arrangements and monitored the situation on the ground. Their continuous coordination with the district administration and police officers helped ensure the smooth movement of immersion processions and the peaceful participation of thousands of devotees. One of the most memorable moments of the celebrations was the emotional participation of the two senior police officers in the immersion procession. Setting aside official protocol, IGP Dr Nayak and SP Siddharth Kataria walked barefoot and joined devotees in carrying Maa Gajalaxmi’s Medha on their shoulders.
The gesture reflected a beautiful combination of duty, devotion and deep respect for the religious traditions and sentiments of the people. Dr Nayak appreciated the discipline, patience and cooperation demonstrated by the citizens, puja committees, local organisations, volunteers and devotees throughout the celebrations. He also acknowledged the dedicated service of police personnel, district administration officials, magistrates and employees of various departments who worked for long hours to ensure public safety and maintain peace. He said that the successful management of a major religious festival involving thousands of people was possible because of the collective efforts of all stakeholders and the trust between the public and the police.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr Nayak said that festivals are an important part of Odisha’s cultural heritage and should be celebrated with discipline, mutual respect, brotherhood and social responsibility. He emphasised that public cooperation is the strongest foundation of effective policing and that the people of Kendrapara had set an encouraging example by extending wholehearted support to the administration. He particularly thanked the district administration, police administration, puja committees, volunteers, local residents and all government departments for their coordinated efforts.
The peaceful conclusion of the Lakshmi Puja Bhasani also reflected the importance of people-friendly policing, where the police work not merely to maintain law and order but also to remain connected with society, respect public sentiments and strengthen community relationships. From security planning and crowd management to traffic regulation and the final immersion procession, every stage required dedication, coordination and collective responsibility.
The people of Kendrapara responded with maturity and cooperation, making the celebrations peaceful and memorable. As devotees bid an emotional farewell to Maa Gajalaxmi, the successful festival left behind a powerful message of unity, harmony and mutual trust. Dr Satyajit Nayak’s appreciation carries a broader message that when citizens, police and the administration work together with a shared commitment, even large-scale public celebrations can be conducted peacefully and with dignity. The Kendrapara Lakshmi Puja immersion will be remembered not only for its devotion and grandeur but also for the exemplary coordination between the people and the administration — a meaningful celebration of Duty, Devotion and Public Cooperation.
