Friday, September 25, 2009

Most puja pandals maintain a low-key affair


STAFF Reporter
GUWAHATI, Sept 24 – Dispur Barowari Puja committee will be celebrating Sri Sri Durga Puja and Sri Sri Lakshmi Puja for the 67th year. But unlike in the previous years, the puja committee has decided to keep it a low-key affair in memory of the blast victims of Ganeshguri.

“The main emphasis this year is on celebrating the puja in as simple a manner as possible because the nightmare is still fresh in our mind,” said Robin Das, a member of the puja committee. The celebrations will feature all the rituals and ojapali performance.

Das informed that all the security and fire safety measures have been adopted by the committee to ensure that pandal hoppers had a good time. “We have employed private security so that no untoward incident takes place.”

The oldest Durga Puja in the capital city, the Ujanbazar Barowari Puja will, in keeping to its tradition, celebrate the occasion in a simple way. In its 120th year, this mandap is thronged by devotees as both religion and history is intermingled in the genesis of the puja celebrations here. “Simplicity is our tradition and we have a small budget,” said a member of the Ujanbazar Barowari Puja Mandap Samity adding that the samity has always adhered to the fire safety guidelines and this year too all the guidelines will be followed. “We have fire extinguishers and a reservoir of 10,000 litre water capacity.”

The Latashil field was bustling with activities as the Guwahati Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samity members were running about giving the last minute orders to the labour force giving the final touches to the pandal and the idols. In its 33rd year, the celebrations here will feature Nagara Naam, screening of religious films and cartoons and a cultural show on Dashami. The samity has sought the services of private security agencies and has kept ready fire extinguishers, buckets filled with sand and water as advised by the fire department.

The 41st Maidam Beltola Lakshmi Mandir Sarbajanin puja will be marked by the traditional festivities.

The Kalapahar Durga Puja Committee in its 52nd year has innovatively designed the pandal in the ‘Agamoni theme’ based on traditional handicrafts of the State. The celebrations here will feature painting, quiz and Arati competition and a cultural show.

On the other hand, the puja spirit was dampened at the Brihattar Hengarabari Sarbajanin Durga Puja as a fire in the wee hours on Wednesday totally destroyed the pandal. The members of the puja committee informed that prayers will be offered to the goddess sans all the superficialities.

Soruce:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=sep2509/City8

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