Nandankanan swings to Raja

BHUBANESWAR: Nandankanan will wear a festive look for three days during the forthcoming Raja, beginning June 14. The zoo authorities, considering the rush of visitors, have started repairing swings (dolis), unique to the festival, at the children's park there.
"There are around 18 swings in the park and we are ensuring that they are in good shape. Children above 12 years won't be allowed to use the swings.We are also cleaning the periphery of the park," said assistant director Kamal Lochan Purohit.
While most of the visitors are expected to throng the children's park and botanical garden, another sought- after destination, a good number of tourists will also visit animal enclosures. Since the crowd will be more than a normal day's footfall, the zoo authorities have decided not to allow polythene bags and cooked food inside the park. "Since children's number will be quite high, there is possibility that they might litter the area with food stuff and polythene. We will put up boards to educate visitors," said a zoo official.
The zoo authorities recently renovated the picnic sites at the botanical garden. More than 1,000 people can be accommodated at the spots. More toilets and bathrooms have been constructed for revellers. The latest addition to the botanical garden is an evolution garden, which chronicles plant evolution. The heritage garden is another major draw.
There will be two extra ticket counters to meet the rush. "We have asked police, firemen and a team of doctors to be present during the rush hour," said the official.
A record number of 21,514 tourists visited Nandankanan on the second day of Raja in 2010, breaking a 10-year record.