Kendrapada: Idol makers in Kendrapada and Jajpur districts are staring at huge losses following cancellation or scaling down of Ganesh Puja celebrations in several flood-hit educational institutions and public places. The floodwaters are yet to completely recede from several riverside villages in Aul, Rajkanika, Pattamundai and Rajnagar blocks of Kendrapada district and Dasarathpur, Bari, Binjharpur, Barachana and Rasulpur blocks of Jajpur district.Idol makers said they usually receive orders from educational institutions nearly a month before Ganesh Puja. “But the recent floods have washed away our hopes of earning more this year, as many institutions will not celebrate Ganesh Puja with enthusiasm. Several puja committees in flood-hit areas have decided to skip the festival,” said Pravat Behera (63), an idol maker from Kumbhara Sahi, on the outskirts of town. Narendra Moharana (40), an idol-maker from Parakula village, said our business is facing 50% losses due to the flood.Idol makers in Jajpur district have been badly affected too. “The recent flood has severely hit our work and with it our business. We are in great distress,” said Pramod Behera (54), an idol maker from Balichandrapur.“Usually, by this time, we receive orders from Ganesh Puja organisers. However, many organisers have decided not to observe the puja this year because of the flood. We have been making idols for generations, but we have never faced such a scenario,” said Basant Behera of Kumbharasahi, Kendrapada.Impact of the flood has also dampened the festive spirit among people. Sahadev Mallick (45) of Kaspa village in Jajpur district’s Dasarathpur block said the Kani river breached the village about two weeks ago, leaving the entire area marooned.Students in flood-hit schools said the celebrations would be subdued this year. “We used to celebrate Ganesh Puja in a big way. But the school was submerged in floodwater and muddy water is still visible inside classrooms,” said Rajesh Das (12), a Class VI student of Malikapur School in the worst-affected Malikapur village under Dasarathpur block.Similarly, students of Padanipala village under Aul block said their school had remained submerged for nearly a month, forcing them to cancel the celebrations. “Every year we celebrate Ganesh Puja. But uncertainty is now haunting us as the government has failed to provide us relief,” said Bichitrananda Das (13), a Class VII student of a high school in Padanipala.Residents of other flood-hit villages also said their immediate priority was rebuilding their lives rather than celebrating the festival. “How can we celebrate? There is nothing left here except damaged houses,” said Parikhita Jena of Singhgaon village under Pattamundai block.