With the installation of idols of Goddess Durga at several places, the Durga Puja in this holy city began on the first day of Shardiya Navratra here on Sunday.  The city which is known as ‘Mini Kolkata’ for its grandeur of Durga Puja as around 250 places the idols are installed here every year. The city is all set to see the grandeur of the festival this year as grand pandals are being constructed at dozens of places this year.

Though the festival will get its climax on the occasion of Saptami, the idols of Goddess at about five places including Sarvajanik Durgotsav Samiti at Townhall have been installed on the first day of  this Navratri as these puja samities organise their festival for nine days. The idols at these places were also installed amidst the chanting of mantras and traditional rituals. The rush was seen at these places including Maa Durga Pujanotsav Samiti at Daranagar, Maa Durga Puja Navyuvak Samiti at Navapura, Sarda Mandir at Ghai Ghat and SB Durgotsdav Samiti at Sudia apart from Townhall. Some of the famous puja samitis will also install their idols on the occasions of Panchmi or Sashti.

To maintain law and order situation during the puja, several samitis of big pandals, will also install CCTV cameras to keep regular watch on the visitors as well as anti-social elements. They were also instructed by the police administration to ensure proper electric fittings and fire safety equipment in their puja pandals. The district administration and Varanasi Police Commissionerate have already held meetings to review the security and other arrangements during the puja. The Durga Puja of the city is also famous for its different colours as while most of the Bengali-dominated puja samitis maintained their traditional religious fervour giving focus on their idols of Maa Durga, some other groups make attempts to adopt new techniques and a few of them give focus on the uses of electronic gadgets.