Cuttack Gears Up for Durga Puja as Artisans Restore Silver Filigree Medhas

Cuttack: Preparations for Durga Puja have gained momentum in Cuttack, with the city’s traditional silver artisans working against time to bring the elaborate silver filigree decorations of various puja medhas back to their original brilliance.

Artisans are currently engaged in cleaning, polishing and repairing intricate silver ornaments used to decorate the Durga Puja structures. The decorations include the deity’s crown and throne, lotus motifs, armlets, elephants, peacocks and other ornate designs that form an integral part of Cuttack’s celebrated silver medhas.

The restoration work has already started at several puja committees, including the Khananagar Khapuria Industrial Area Puja Committee. Artisans from Mansinghpatna, known for their expertise in silver craftsmanship, are carrying out the detailed cleaning and repair work.

The scale of the task is considerable. A team of more than four artisans can take nearly 10 days to clean around three quintals of silver ornaments. Since the decorations are exposed to dust, dirt and other impurities during the puja and immersion, they undergo thorough maintenance every year.

The process involves chemical cleaning with sulphur and acid to restore the shine of the silver. Pieces that have suffered damage are separately repaired, with artisans using rewelding techniques to restore their original form.

Meanwhile, preparations for the festival have also picked up pace on the administrative front. This year, Maa Durga will be worshipped at 172 puja pandals across Cuttack, prompting authorities and puja committees to step up arrangements well in advance.

Puja committees are required to obtain clearances for several aspects of the celebrations, including pandal construction and decoration, cultural events, electricity connections, fire safety measures and immersion processions. Although a single-window permission system was introduced last year, several committees had raised concerns over difficulties in securing approvals.

In an effort to streamline the process, the district administration is planning to introduce an online application facility this year. The proposed system will enable puja committees to submit applications for various permissions without having to make repeated visits to government offices.

Authorities are also focusing on crowd and public safety, with committees being directed to follow established guidelines concerning fire prevention, electrical arrangements and the conduct of immersion processions.

With artisans restoring the intricate silver decorations and puja pandals gradually taking shape, Cuttack is beginning to take on its unmistakable festive character. The annual preparations once again highlight the city’s rich silver craftsmanship and its enduring identity as Odisha’s Silver City.