Kendrapara, October 16 ( Odisha.in)The recent devastating flood in Kendrapada areas has come as a wet blanket for thousands of flood affected people to observe ‘Dusheera’ in Kendrapada district and its nearby areas.
Since time immemorial large number of villagers of this coastal district have been observing “Dusherra” festival with much pomp and gaiety in their villages.
But the recent flood poured cold water on their celebrations. “It is the time of reconstruction of our damaged houses and not for celebration”, said Ashok Behera of village Trilochapur under Rajkanika block of the district whose four roomed thatched house razed on the ground in the flood.
Every year we celebrate “Dusheera” with much pomp and gaiety. But now specter of uncertainty has been haunting us as the government has failed to provide helps to rebuild our houses”, said Satya Das of village Bilapala under Aul block.
At least five lakh people of 370 villages of Kendrapada district have been affected in the last month’s flood.
“We decided not to celebrate the festival this year after the devastating flood ruined us We used to decorate our houses by painting on the eve of the Dusherra .
Many Puja committee members in the flood-affected villagers have also decided not to spend more money to construct the decorated pandals. “We used to spend about three to four lakh to observe ‘Dusheera’ by erecting pandals . But this year we will not spend a single pie to build the pandal”, said Prakash Sahoo the president of Puja committee of village Barunidiha.
Vast tracts of agricultural fields which once saw the prosperity of the farmers blessed with good harvest of paddy, now bears mute witness to sand-cast fields and rotten paddy saplings.
“How can we celebrate? There is nothing left here except the damaged houses and sand-cast paddy fields”, said Suraendra Sahoo of village Balibandha.
Odisha.in