SHILLONG/TURA: Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community, began on Tuesday evening with devotees from across the state flocking to different pandals for paying obeisance to Mother Durga on Shasthi.
Wishing people on the occasion, state chief secretary Y Tsering hoped for peace and harmony to prevail during the festival.
He said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a peaceful festival.
East Khasi Hills superintendent of police Davis Marak said Shillong police have intensified security in view of the celebration.
The Central Puja Committee (CPC) , the apex coordinating body of Durga Puja pandals here, has been involved in hectic preparations since the beginning of this month.
This year, there are as many as 231 community Durga pujas in the state including 64 in the Greater Shillong area.
The celebration coincides with CPC’s silver jubilee year.
Prior to the puja, the Get Together of Harmony and all-faith prayer were held on September 23.
Other attractions of the puja include the Prasad Gupta Memorial Drum Beat Competition (indigenous) and SK Das Memorial Drum Beat Competition (traditional) to be held on September 28 and 29 respectively.
The CPC has coordinated with the police to ensure round-the-clock security in all the Puja pandals. Besides, security personnel will be deployed in all the vulnerable areas of the town.
CCTV cameras, first-aid boxes and fire extinguishers have also been installed in all Puja pandals.
In Tura, there will be 24 Puja pandals this year while Garo Hills will have 110.
The main attraction of this years’ celebration is the silver jubilee celebration of the Beldarpara Puja pandal and the golden jubilee celebration of the Milan Sangha Puja pandal.
The immersion of idols is scheduled for September 30, the last day of the celebration. The Puja pandals under different Puja Committees will carry out the immersion procession according to their convenience.
In Tura, the immersion procession will begin at 2 pm from Tura Parade Ground and culminate at Babupara Bisharjan Ghat.
As part of the festivities, a dhak competition cum cultural programme will be organised by the CPC at the Tura Parade Ground on October 2. Artistes from Kolkata, featuring in the reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, will also perform in the programme.
Puja greetings
The 18th West Shillong BJP Mandal Committee extends its heartiest greetings on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja to everyone and it also wishes all the Muslim brethrens in advance, a happy Muharram, which will be celebrated all over on October 1.
In a statement issued to the press, the committee also firmly endorsed the conclusion arrived at by the Synjuk Ki Dorbar Shnong, West Shillong that political parties should desist from any sort of forceful campaign and to such initiative, it salutes and expressed sincere appreciation.
With recent unpleasant incidents occurring within the constituency, BJP has requested the people to be aware of confusing comments, intimidations and actions as the party believes participating in elections are to be based on individual party’s ideologies and principles which does not manifest in hatred, abusive behaviour and slander intensions.