Cuttack: Residents of CDA area illuminated a 3-km stretch with around 5,000 ‘diyas’ or earthen lamps on both sides of the road along the Mahanadi riverbank in Cuttack on the eve of Kartik Purnima.
The decorations started from Bhuasuni Temple in Chahata and continued to Dhabaleswar Ghat. “The road is quite dark and desolate. So we thought of lighting it up with diyas,” said Rajesh Sahoo, a resident of CDA.
“It took us seven hours for 50 people to decorate the road with earthen lamps,” said Rajesh.
The sight of thousands of diyas glowing along the riverbank attracted locals and visitors alike, who gathered to witness the stunning illumination.
“It was truly magical to see so many people come together for this event,” said Gouri Shankar Swain, a resident who helped arrange the diyas.
“Seeing the road lit up brought so much joy, and it reminded us of the power of community spirit and collaboration,” added Swain. To keep the diyas illuminated, a team was engaged to pour oil regularly into the diyas to brighten the area, added Swain.
As several people throng the river ghat to observe Kartik Purnima late at night and sail miniature boats in the Mahanadi to commemorate the rich maritime history, the community wanted a safe and secure Kartik Purnima for all. “Every year, we celebrate Kartik Purnima, but this year, we wanted to do something extraordinary ,” said Girija Shankar, a local resident.