The beautifully decorated pandals, attractive lighting and colourful gates have been attracting thousands of people from far and near to the Laxmi Puja celebrations here.

The pleasant weather has added to the excitement of the visitors and the traders here. With the crowds thronging the pandals from sunset till about midnight the business has increased manifold.

Puja pandals of the bus stand, Shantinagar, Laxmi Bazaar, daily market and traffic chhack are among the most attractive. Melody, opera and other cultural functions every evening add to the entertainment. As the bazaar roads are narrow due to rampant encroachment, tight traffic arrangements have irked the people who complained of highhandedness by some traffic officials. Even as pandals are doing good business, poor arrangements by the departments concerned have irked the people. The 2-km bazaar road is in a wretched condition and thanks to the wanton use of lights, a part of the town plunges into darkness.

For a peaceful celebrations as many as 500 police personnel including officers, some of them from districts like Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Nabarangpur have been posted. The immersion ceremony will take off from the High School Ground tomorrow where the idols will be brought together, said SP Pratik Mohanty.