Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has decided to observe Durga Puja and Dussehra in a subdued manner this year and will not visit any puja pandals across the state, the Chief Minister’s Office announced on Monday.
The decision comes in the wake of widespread damage caused by continuous rainfall and floods that have affected several districts, severely impacting farmers and their livelihoods. Officials said the Chief Minister is expressing solidarity with those hit by crop losses and other flood-related hardships.
According to the CMO, Majhi will refrain from the traditional visits to Durga Puja mandaps during the festival and on Dussehra as a mark of empathy towards the affected population, particularly the farming community which has suffered extensive agricultural losses.
Odisha has faced multiple spells of heavy rain linked to low-pressure systems and depressions during the current monsoon season. Earlier floods in August and subsequent systems damaged standing crops over large areas, affected housing, and disrupted normal life in numerous districts. The state government had previously announced a special ₹1,000-crore relief package and conducted aerial surveys and on-ground assessments of the damage.
While Durga Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm across Odisha, the Chief Minister’s choice to keep the observance low-key underscores the priority given to the plight of flood-hit families and farmers struggling with financial losses this season.
