by Mayukh Goswami
Mangaldai:Durga Puja celebrations have begun with a five day long programme in Darrang district while Maha Saptami has been celebrated on October 12 with religious enthusiasm and traditional gaiety but following SOP of Covid 19 . This time the district administration has issued permission to more than 170 nos of community puja committees which is more than double of the 83 nos of puja committees which got official permission last year . “ So far we have issued permission to altogether 167 puja committees and processes for a few others are also on .
Last year permission was granted to 83 such puja committees under strict Covid 19 protocols. ” , said Boktar Ali , the administrative officer of Darrang Deputy Commissioner office here on Monday . Out of this Mangaldai Police Station recorded the highest 73 nos of community puja followed by Kharupetia Police Station recording more than 50 . With Covid 19 SOP still in place imposing different restrictions , the puja celebration committees seem to put on stress to draw the attention of the devotees and visitors through special artistic skills of the artisans . Among the different puja pandals here , the idols of the deities of Maa Lakshmi Society at the LNB road , sculptured to adore traditional look of the rich Assamese culture is sure to attract the puja revelers .
“ Our puja has entered thirteen years . This time the idol of the goddess and other deities is prepared by Nirmal Paul of Guwahati only with clay and other natural materials symbolizes the rich tradition of the Assamese clothes and ornaments .” said Bhola Patowary and Rupamjit Saharia, office bearers of the puja committee . Apart from this the entrance made of a huge traditional Assamese japi prepared by internationally acclaimed young artist Ajit Bania , placed over a set of ‘ Bor Dhol’ and “Bor Kkah” is also turned out to be another theme of appreciation in the puja celebration . Deities of several other puja committees of the district head quarters town including Mangaldai Barowari puja near Natya Mandir crossing one hundred years, Uttar Mangaldai Sati Sadhini Sabha with more than fifty years , Maa Bhagawati Devi temple premises near APDCL office . Udayan Sanggha’s puja at Santipara , Darrang Police reserve puja and the 29th edition of Bamunpara Ancholik Sarvajanin Durga puja celebration among others are sure to attract everyone with its beautiful look and art.
On the other hand the Royal Durga Puja of the Koch Royal dynasty has also been celebrated in three different royal sites- Gakhir-Khowa Raja Howli , Mohanpur Howli and Dangar Raja Howli with more than 400 years old tradition and culture . The face of the idol of the goddess in the royal puja smeared with red colour to symbolize the deity in its warrior look. Among these three royal pujas, animals are sacrificed only in Gakhir-Khowa Raja Howli puja . “This time also livestock including buffalo , goat , ducks are made ready to sacrifice on the day of Maha Astami in our puja.”, said Kumar Sailendra Narayan Deb , president of the puja committee of the Gakhir –Khowa Howli. Meanwhile Mangaldai police have been carrying out drives against the rider of the two wheelers violating road safety norms to avert any risk to pedestrians at the time of enjoying puja . “ We have seized many bikes of unruly bikers and also imposed fines at the maximum under the provisions of MV Act.”, said Inspector Mosco Saikia , Officer in Charge of Mangaldai Police Station.
