Nabarangpur, Oct 24 [UDN}:: The Maa Durga Puja Committee of Dabugam in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district organised a grand immersion procession to bid farewell to Goddess Durga following the conclusion of the Durga Puja festivities. The ceremony was celebrated with great enthusiasm, traditional music, colourful cultural performances and the participation of a large number of local residents.
The immersion programme witnessed the active participation of several committee members, public representatives and prominent citizens of the town. Committee president Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, along with Dibya Ranjan Patra, secretary Surendra Barik, treasurer Suresh Behera, Santosh Patra and Zilla Parishad Zone-II member Gupta Bisoyi, played important roles in organising the event. Other prominent participants included M. Apa Rao, Surendra Mishra, G. Sai Raju, Kailash Bisoyi, Suryanarayan Subuddhi, R. Shankar Rao and Saubhagya Biswal. Several other respected members of the community also extended their cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct of the procession.
Traditional music and tribal cultural performances emerged as major attractions of the immersion ceremony. The distinctive horn music performed by Baladev Guru of Chercheta village added a traditional flavour to the procession. Performers from Biriguda, Batasar and Nayakguda villages also contributed to the cultural celebrations. A special dance performance by girls at Alekh Bhavan, presented under the guidance of Parshuram Guru and Jugamba Guru, captivated the audience.
One of the major highlights was the performance by the Jai Seva Mati Mandri tribal dance troupe, which arrived from Kosadohali village near Kondagaon in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The group presented an engaging display of traditional tribal dance, attracting considerable attention from spectators and adding a distinctive cultural dimension to the celebrations.
The energetic DJ music presented by J. K. Music from Mahendri village under Papadahandi block further enlivened the atmosphere. The loud musical performances reverberated throughout Dabugam town as devotees and local residents joined the procession to bid an emotional farewell to Goddess Durga.
The procession began in Dabugam town and passed through several localities, including Nuaguda, Dangariguda and Jayantinagar, before reaching the Angi River, where the immersion ceremony was completed. The final immersion rituals continued until late at night, marking the conclusion of the Durga Puja celebrations.
As part of the preceding evening’s cultural programme, a musical event featuring Archana Padhi and a Desia folk theatre performance had also been organised, providing additional entertainment for the people of the town.
To ensure public safety and maintain law and order throughout the celebrations, extensive police arrangements were made under the direct supervision of Dabugam police station officer-in-charge Lachhimi Paraja. Police personnel were deployed at key locations along the procession route and near the immersion site to manage the crowds and ensure the peaceful conduct of the event.
With the cooperation of the puja committee, local residents, cultural performers and police personnel, all the Durga Puja programmes in Dabugam concluded peacefully and in an orderly manner. The grand immersion procession reflected the community’s devotion to Goddess Durga while showcasing the region’s rich traditional music, tribal dance and cultural heritage.