Friday, September 25, 2009

Durga Puja festivities begin

STAFF Reporter
GUWAHATI, Sept 24 – Durga Puja, among the biggest festivals of the State, got under way on the auspicious Maha Sasthi today with observation of the rituals of bodhan, awahan and adhivas. According to astrology, the Goddess arrives on a dola this year and leaves on elephant back. Maha Sasthi marks the first day of her five-day earthly sojourn.

It is believed that the Goddess arrives on the earth to slay the evil demon king Mahisasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. She is accompanied by her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh.

The city wore a festive look with the colourfully-decorated and illuminated 500-odd puja pandals according a grand welcome to the Goddess. Devotees were seen visiting the pandals amidst the chanting of hymns. The real festivities, however, will begin from tomorrow, i.e., on the Maha Saptami day.

With arrangements that range from the modest to the extravagant, the puja pandals are leaving no stone unturned to entice the visitors. While the average expenditure on a pandal is around Rs 3 lakh, several have exceeded Rs 10 lakh in meeting the overall arrangements.

Most of the puja committees are also arranging elaborate programmes including cultural shows spanning over five to seven days to mark the festive occasion. Pub-Guwahati Rajahuwa Durga Puja Samiti, Chandmari Rajahuwa Puja Samiti, Guwahati Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti, Latasil, Silpukhuri Sarbajanin Sri Sri Durga Puja Samiti, Ujanbazar Barowari Puja Mandap Samiti, Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti, Hengrabari, Santipur Sarbajanin Durga Udjapan Samiti, Brihattar Panjabari Sarbajanin Durga Puja Aru Lakshmi Puja Udjappan Samiti, Geetanagar Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti, Purva Tirupathi Sri Balaji Seva Samiti, Kahilipara Durga Mandap Committee, and Srinagar Yuva Durga Puja Samiti, among others, have extended their best Durga Puja greetings to the people.

Meanwhile, the district administration and the police have braced themselves to ensure a smooth celebration of the festivities. Traffic arrangements have been altered at some busy localities for facilitating greater pedestrian movement. Puja committees are also maintaining close coordination with the police to thwart any subversive bids by anti-social elements. Volunteers have also been engaged to keep close watch in and around puja venues.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com

No comments: