Our Bureau
SHILLONG/Tura: The four-day Durga Puja festival passed off peacefully in the State with the immersion of idols on the last day of the puja on Saturday.
People exchanged greetings, gifts and sweets during Vijayadashami on Saturday which culminated the Durga puja celebrations.
Though there was a 24-hour bandh called by the HNLC from the evening of October 1, the festive mood was not dampened as people came out in large numbers to take part in the celebrations.
The HNLC, meanwhile, had exempted the puja celebrations from the purview of the bandh.
While sunny weather marked the immersion of idols, weather was more or less favourable during the puja days.
East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang thanked the people of the district especially those from Shillong for their support in ensuring peaceful puja celebrations.
The SP also thanked the Central Puja Committee for its co operation.
In a message, Kharkrang said that the criminal elements who wanted to dampen the festive spirit by calling a bandh failed in their bid. He also sought people’s support in future.
In Tura, Durga puja celebrations witnessed a peaceful end with no untoward incidents being reported from any part of the town.
However, the prevailing law and order situation coupled with the devastating flood had an impact on the celebrations.
There were no additional pandals erected this year and the number remained unchanged from last year with altogether 22 puja pandals in and around Tura. During the celebrations it was seen that women participants by far outnumbered the men who came out in large numbers to be a part of the festivities.
On Saturday, the last day of the celebrations the emersion procession kicked off from Dobasipara culminating as usual at the Babupara Immersion Ghat. The procession which began at 4:30 in the evening and lasted until around 6:30 pm also saw the participation of a large number of women who dominated the men regardless of which Puja Committee they belonged to.
The main attractions of the day were the street plays by the Der Mile Puja Committee and the Lower Dobasipara Puja Committee who entertained the people all along the way to the immersion site.
Meanwhile, a post Durga Puja Dhak Competition will be organized by the Central Puja Committee (CPC), Tura on Monday at the Police Parade Ground where drummers from the different Puja committees will vie for the title of being declared the best.