Bhubaneswar: The city is set for a grand Gajalaxmi Puja this year, with an 80-foot idol of Goddess Laxmi coming up at Patia, expected to be the tallest in the capital city this season. The seven-day celebration, beginning Sunday, will feature cultural programmes, music and dance performances, food stalls and a Meena Bazaar, making it a major attraction for devotees and revellers.The puja is being organised by the North Bhubaneswar Gajalaxmi Puja Committee at the Club Town ground in Patia. This is the committee’s maiden attempt at organising Gajalaxmi Puja, and members said they wanted to make a strong beginning with a large-scale celebration.Committee secretary Tapan Kumar Nayak said around 30 artisans from Jajpur were engaged to build the idol and the pandal. The work took nearly a month to complete. “We are fully prepared for Gajalaxmi Puja, which will begin on Sunday. Since this is our first year, we have tried to make the arrangements special,” Nayak said.Committee president Priyabrata Hati said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a festive experience for visitors. “Apart from darshan of goddess Laxmi, people can enjoy food stalls, Meena Bazaar and other shops at the venue. We want to make the first edition memorable for everyone,” he said.Committee adviser Amaresh Parida said the idea was to offer capital residents a grand Gajalaxmi Puja experience within the city. “Every year, many people travel to Dhenkanal and Kendrapada to witness Gajalaxmi Puja. We wanted to create a similar festive atmosphere in Bhubaneswar so that people here can enjoy the celebration without travelling far,” he said.Another adviser, Soumyaranjan Jena, said cultural evenings will be organised from Sunday till Oct 31. Popular Odia film singers, including Antara Chakraborty and Diptirekha, are scheduled to perform during the festival, along with other music and dance programmes.Committee member Chandrasekhar Dash said the immersion of the idol will be held on Oct 31. “The immersion procession will be organised in a unique manner, and we expect a large crowd to participate,” he said.Several Durga Puja mandaps, youth clubs and local organisations across Bhubaneswar also organise Gajalaxmi Puja, including at Saheed Nagar, Unit-9, near the RIE campus and Damana. Dhenkanal, Kendrapada and other districts are also ready for the festival, with pandal-hopping set to begin Sunday.