GUWAHATI: On the eve of annual Durga Puja festival, the state of Assam especially its urban centres led by the bustling Guwahati city are buzzing with activated besides getting decorated with glitzy Puja pandals that as well as the idols are getting the final touches.
Notwithstanding the threat from the banned ULFA(I) and forecast of rainfall during Puja, people of the State have remained unfazed as the festivity has already gripped ahead of the long Puja holiday. The shopping centres in the city are teeming with puja-time shoppers from all ages and sections of the society.
Durga Puja is being organized with pomp and grandeur in about 600 puja pandals all over Kamrup Metropolitan district including Guwahati city alone. The organizing committees are spending lakhs if Rupees in organizing the puja while major part of the expenditures goes to bear the cost of making of the idols.
On the other hand, all the big budget Puja committees across the State, with large size idols of Goddess Durga, her four children and the demon on feet, have engaged artistes from far off Siliguri, Cooch Behar, Nadia and other places of West Bengal. Idols are being made inside the pandals and the organizers keep a close watch on the making. Apart from designs and artistry inside the pandals, illuminations form part of making the Puja more attractive.
Meanwhile, an explosion occurred in Guwahati heart on Saturday just three days ahead of Durga Puja while banned ULFA(I) has claimed responsibility for the blast. Security has been geared up in and around puja pandals so the occasion is celebrated unhindered and sans any tension. Police further informed that all the Puja volunteers are working together with the police, and enough force has been sent to all other districts.
Assam DGP Kuladhar Saikia said there were no specific threats to puja celebration even though there was a blast in the city on Saturday. He said the security was being reviewed and augmented. All the puja organizing committees have been asked to install CCTV cameras on their venues for security reasons.
