Bhubaneswar: After the oldest Durga Puja pandals across the state, the Odisha government on Wednesday decided to extend financial support to Gajalakshmi Puja in Dhenkanal.

A total of 38 pandals in Dhenkanal will receive Rs 50,000 each from the Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture to help them continue with their tradition of worshipping Gajalakshmi.

.In total, Rs 19 lakh will be disbursed to the 38 pandals, the department informed. ADVERTISEMENT

Gajalakshmi puja is held on a massive scale for 11 days in Dhenkanal, where all chhaks and markets are decorated with colourful and decorative lights. The tradition dates back to 1923, when it was started with leaves and petronax lamps. Late Brajakishore Pattnaik, Natabar Debata, Gatikrushna Pattnaik, and a few others started th

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