Berhampur: For people in south Odisha, Dussehra arrived at a wrong time this year even as people here are struggling to come to terms with the reality. At this time of the year, the town is normally busy with Dussehra celebrations. But, this time round there is no sign of festivities anywhere.
A week before Dussehra, every neighbourhood in the district is decorated with lights and beautifully adorned pandals creating a festive atmosphere. Persons who had bought rice, coconuts and other provisions as Dussehra was round the corner, could not save anything.
Members of various cultural organisaitons practiced for hours to put up a series of cultural shows leading up to the festival and people went on a shopping frenzy to avail discounts on offer.
However, this year has been very different. The flood has dampened the spirit of the season and residents have been forced to tone down the grandeur of the festivities.
Rotary clubs and cultural committees that organised extravagant navratri celebration, dandia nights and other cultural programmes have been left in the lurch as people are not in a mood celebrate.
“We have been unable to sell tickets for the event as people are not in a mood to celebrate,” said an organizer.
Similarly, Pandals that are put up by collecting donations from people are feeling the pinch as they have not been able to collect donations or find sponsors.
Moreover, it is around this celebration time, a lot of tourists from all parts are expected to visit the places. However, tourists have cancelled their trips, dampening the festive mood like previous years.
A local who loves to go visiting pandals in the town every year says he is not sure if the pandals he has been visiting every year since he was a kid have been set up this time.
“I’m not sure if we will celebrate Dussehra with much fanfare like previous years as the situation is grim. I understand people are going through a lot of troubles. My sense would not allow me to celebrate in this condition. I will instead prefer to show solidarity with those who have lost their near and dear ones,” he said.
There is no assurance that there won’t be a repeat of this since there has been significant damage to the state’s ecosystem on account of major deforestation, illegal encroachments on the river banks and pollution. Nature has tasted blood in Odisha. It’s a long road ahead for the state to get back to what it used to be till about four days ago.
PNN