Laxmi Bazaar captivates visitors with silver-adorned Maa Laxmi idols and a creatively themed mandap blending tradition, art, and social awareness. The unique displays make the celebration both devotional and thought-provoking, drawing large crowds across Dhenkanal.

As Dhenkanal celebrates Lakshmi Puja, its streets come alive with stalls run by vendors from across India, turning the festival into a source of livelihood and hope. Amid colours, crafts, and faith, each stall tells a story of hard work, dreams, and quiet perseverance.

Dhenkanal’s Laxmi Puja dazzles with 41 artistic pandals, silver-adorned idols, and grand cultural performances blending devotion and creativity. With 18 platoons ensuring safety, the town shines as a symbol of Odisha’s rich heritage and festive unity.

Laxmi Puja celebrations have begun with great enthusiasm across Dhenkanal, featuring 41 pandals and vibrant mela grounds filled with food, handicrafts, and festive stalls. To manage the large crowds, authorities have set up health centers, deployed lady constables, and stationed 22 platoons for tight security throughout the 10-day festival.

The Dhenkanal Forest Division and IIMC Dhenkanal celebrated Wildlife Week 2025 with a Photography Exhibition showcasing Dhenkanal's biodiversity. The event announced winners in the open category, celebrating local citizen and student engagement with nature.

In a groundbreaking move, the Dhenkanal Municipality has embraced diversity by hiring transgender women to enhance its waste management efforts. Six dedicated individuals are currently employed at the Mahisapada centre, where they expertly sort plastics while earning a steady monthly income. This initiative not only promotes financial security for a marginalized community but also fosters greater social acceptance.

In a significant move towards gender equity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Subhadra Yojana on September 17, 2024. Aiming to uplift women in Odisha, this financial scheme allocates 10,000 rupees annually in two segments to eligible women aged 21 to 60, reaching a total of 50,000 rupees over five years.

The Aspirational District Programme is transforming tribal lives in Dhenkanal through education, skill training, healthcare, and nutrition initiatives.

IIMC Dhenkanal students visited the Mahisapat Municipality’s Wealth Centre to learn about waste management, where experts stressed the challenge of segregation and workers shared their earnings, benefits, and role in recycling. They also toured the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant, with officials highlighting its importance for a sustainable environment in Dhenkanal.

Dhenkanal Palace, just 75 km from Bhubaneswar, is a 19th-century royal residence that now serves as a heritage hotel. Still home to the royal family, it offers guests a mix of history, tradition, and culture. From its striking yellow walls and hidden passageways to local crafts supported by the royals, the palace gives visitors more than just a stay, it’s a glimpse into Odisha’s past and present.