By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The wait is finally over as the city along with the rest of the country joins the four-day long Durga Puja celebrations beginning Sunday.
Thousands of people rushed in for last-minute shopping thus adding to the sense of anticipation ahead of the ‘big festival’ as the city wore a festive look.
The celebrations begin with the Maha Saptami puja on Saturday and the Central Puja Committee has planned a series of programmes on the occasion.
To mark the celebrations cultural programmes would be organized at the Jail Road puja mandap where children from SOS village will also take part.
The SK Das Memorial Drum Beat competition and Prasad Gupta Memorial Traditional Khasi Drum Beat Competition will be organized by the Jail Road Durga Puja Committee on Monday.
On the same day, special bus service to Nartiang Durga temple will be arranged for the devotees from Shillong.
Like previous years, harmony visits will be organized by the CPC for leaders of different religions, prominent NGOs and social activists.
Sweets and gifts would also be distributed to the needy and the orphans on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the CPC has requested the SPTS buses to ply till 11.30 pm in selected routes of Greater Shillong during the Puja days.
Our Correspondent adds from Tura
Durga Puja celebrations have begun in Garo Hills with Tura leading the way with as many as twenty-one puja mandaps welcoming devotees and the public to join in the celebration.
The beating of drums on Saturday night to welcome Goddess Durga ushered in the celebrations as the idol of the goddess was placed at the centre of the puja pandal on the occasion of Shasti.
Beginning with Saptami, the puja would continue until Tuesday night, which is Navami,when the large number of devotees and visitors are expected to throng the various puja mandaps in Tura town.
Immersion of the idol of the goddess is slated for Wednesday on Dashami day and elaborate preparations are in place for the immersion at Babupara ghat in the town.
However, despite all the anticipation surrounding the Durga Puja, according to reports, garment dealers have revealed low sales this time round.
Soaring prices of food items and clothes and shoes have dampened the celebrations with many shoppers trying hard to bargain with traders to reduce prices.
Besides inflation and rising prices of items there is also rampant extortion in the market which is affecting not just the consumers but traders as well.
But despite the gloom, devotees are not letting it affect their celebrations as they prepare for the once in a year Durga Puja celebration.