The Gana Parva of Talcher “Ganesh Puja" started on September 2 with great pomp.

Though it rained most of the days since the beginning of the festival, still thousands of visitors from in and around thronged the various pandals daily. The whole of the town from Talcher Town area to Handidhua Chowk has been decorated with dazzling and colourful lights. There are more than 70 puja pandals located in the town.

There is also competition among the Puja Committees to bag awards for the best decorated pandals and idols this year. The celebrations will come to an end on September 14 on the occasion of Indu Purnima. To maintain peace and discipline during the festive occasion, security arrangements have been stepped up in the city, led by Angul SP Jagmohan Mina. Police have made necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. The Talcher SDPO, six inspectors and  five platoon forces remain deployed.  Besides, provisions for foot and mobile patrolling have been made.Special arrangements have been made for traffic management.

A special vehicle is moving in different places of the town to take out the drunken youths, said Talcher SDPO Hemant Kumar Panda. To attract the visitors, cultural programmes are  being held in the evening  through Central Puja Committee at By pass and Handidhua  Chowk daily. Announcements through mikes  by the committee are also made to alert visitors against pickpockets and chain snatchers.  The famous Angyan Malla and Ladu will be auctioned on the immersion day in the presence of Talcher MLA Brajakishore Pradhan and president of Central Puja Committee Talcher Sub Collector Paresh Chandra Nayak and other committee members.