TURA: The echo of the drums, showering of rose petals and chants of “Durga Ma ki Jai” rant the air as the idols of Goddess Durga were immersed in water at the Babupara ghat on Friday evening, bringing to a conclusion the weeklong colorful celebrations of Durga Puja in the Garo Hills.
“This has been a very colorful and successful celebrations of Durga Puja,” inform members of the Central Puja Committee recalling the previous year’s subdued celebrations in the aftermath of the demonetization exercise, implementation of GST which initially hampered trade and business, and a heavy downpour at the peak of celebrations that discouraged many from venturing out of their homes.
The immersion procession that started from TURA Bazar and rolled through the main thoroughfares of the town was led by the Nepali Durga Puja mandap, the oldest puja mandap which is over a century old.
This year, a total of 115 Puja Pandals have been erected by different Puja committees all across Garo Hills. West Garo Hills has the highest number of 75 Puja pandals.
Tura town alone had a total of 24 Puja pandals.
The Fancy Valley puja mandap which celebrated it’s silver jubilee, this year, presented a vibrant display of colors. The womenfolk of Fancy Valley, attired in colorful traditional sares, walked side by side with the men singing religious hymns.
The Mahendra Colony Durga Puja mandap procession was all about ‘Women Power’ as it’s all female participants led the immersion parade much to the cheers of the hundreds of spectators who cheered by the side of the road.
The Dermile pija mandap, renowned for holding colorful dramas, once again did not fail to impress.
Artists dressed as the goddess Durga slaying the demon God was presented as a street play during the immersion parade by Dermile and it was clearly a favourite with the large audience that cheered them on each time they halted enroute for a brief period to hold the show.
Those returning from the immersion were greeted by members of different mandaps who distributed sweetmeats to the participants.
As part of the week long celebrations, the Central Puja Committee also reached out to the weaker sections of society, distributing clothes to the poorest of the poor in thr town, irrespective of caste or community on October 17.
Swachh Bharat was a key mantra of this year’s celebrations with all the Durga puja committees encouraged to ensure cleanliness and plastic free zones of their areas.
“Cleanliness and communal harmony was the theme for this year’s celebration,” stayed the CPC.
To discourage plastic pollution from the use of bottled drinking water, the CPC set up drinking water points all along the procession route for the hundreds of participants who took part in the final rituals of durga puja.
The Post Puja festivities will include a Dhak competition cum cultural programme to be held on October 21 at the Tura Police Parade Ground, where artists from popular TV show, ‘SAREGAMAPA’ from Kolkata will enthrall the audience with their renditions.
Thrilled by the large turnout of people during the five day event, the Central Puja Committee (CPC) has thanked the people of Garo Hills for their support and cooperation in ensuring a peaceful Durga Puja celebration every year.