By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The recently concluded Durga Puja celebration in the town was peaceful with no reports of any untoward incident from any quarter. The four day puja celebrations, starting from October 3 to October 4 had 155 Durga Puja pandals all over the state.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, JL Das, General Secretary, Central Puja Committee (CPC) said that Durga Puja was celebrated cordially with large participation this year.
“I am in the CPC since 1993 as its general secretary and I have never seen such a big festival being organized beautifully with full support from the police department and district administration in every way,” he said.
Das also said that crowd participation was overwhelming as devotees and visitors thronged the puja pandals in the city deep into the night from the very first day.
It has been seen that many visitors started moving out into various pandals after 11 ‘O’clock in order to avoid rush and busy traffic snarls.
The CPC bus service from Shillong to Nartiang Durga Temple on October 4 was overcrowded.
The CPC general secretary said that there was unexpected response from the public and besides the two buses there were thirty cars that went to Nartiang on the day.
The scene during the immersion ceremony on Thursday was also done in a peaceful and cordial manner followed by the traditional Ravana Badh at the same venue.
The immersion ceremony was over by the official timing of 5:30 pm on Thursday and two control rooms were erected on the spot.
“There were around 20,000 people who gathered on both sides of the banks of Wahumkhrah River besides the nearby hills with a large participation from the local tribal population too,” said Das.
Meanwhile, residents also expressed their satisfaction on the overall Durga Puja celebrations in the town.
A resident of Laban was all praise for the bus service to Nartiang Durga Temple by CPC although it was packed.
AR Mawthoh, Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills District said that the recently concluded puja festival was peaceful with no reports of untoward incidents.