By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 18: The Central Puja Committee (CPC) of Meghalaya played host to the 30th Harmony Get-Together on Wednesday at the Meghalaya Hindu Mission Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee in Mawprem, Shillong. The event, ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations, brought together diverse communities with a call for unity and harmony.
The CPC has been organising this annual gathering since its inception in 1992, with the noble mission of fostering solidarity among the hill city’s varied residents. Religious leaders from different denominations attended the event and collectively affirmed, “Occasions such as this, when we come together across cultures, races, and religions, are rare. We pray for the ability to form genuine friendships and trust in one another.”
The event also had in attendance Social Welfare Minister and West Shillong legislator, Paul Lyngdoh, who stated that as the local MLA, he wasn’t the chief guest but the chief host of this harmonious gathering. He emphasised Mawprem’s cosmopolitan nature, highlighting the unique coexistence of the Hindu Mission and the Presbyterian Church within its boundaries.
He further expressed, “I have been attending this get-together since its inception, first as a student leader, then as a political leader, and now as a cabinet minister. Many things have changed, but at the same time nothing has changed.”
Lyngdoh further called for the cooperation of all religious leaders to contribute to the state’s fight against drug abuse.
“It is my fervent appeal on the eve of Durga Puja, we need to take this battle forward, not simply by reading your scriptures or reading prayers, we need to be proactive as citizens in this fight. If we build temples, mosques and churches, there’s no point if we are not able to contribute in building good human beings,” he added.
Naba Bhattacharjee, president of CPC, underscored the significance of diversity in achieving harmony. He stated, “This idea was conceived, seeds were sown, and today, we all reap the fruits by celebrating our festive season, beginning with Durga Puja and extending to Diwali, Christmas, and more.”
The event commenced with a welcome song presented by the CPC’s women’s wing.
Manas Chaudhari, co-founder of the CPC and former cabinet minister, echoed the event’s sentiment by recognising the pivotal role played by the Central Puja Committee in preserving community bonds in the multicultural hub of Shillong.
He stated, “The puja encompasses not only social and religious dimensions but also spiritual aspects. A substantial part is the festivities that involve the entire community.”