Durga Puja celebrations in the State will begin from Thursday. Ahead of this festival, devotees were seen decorating temples and community prayer venues on Wednesday.
The Durga Puja Committee, Raipur, general secretary Tapas Chakraborty said that The festivities will begin with the Maha Shashthi Puja in the morning and Bodhan, invoking of the Goddess, amidst chanting of Mantras in the evening.At Karanpur Durga Puja venue, Bengali library Durga Puja venue, Hathibarkala Durga Puja venue, Junior Club premises, Raipur and other temples and community prayer venues, devotees were seen giving final touches to the decorations on Wednesday.
Chakraborty said that the Puja Committee, Raipur, under the aegis of “Banga Bharati” is all geared up to celebrate the 70th edition of Durga Puja with religious fervour and fanfare. Daily Puja will be held followed by Pushpanjali, Bhog and Prasad distribution to the devotees from October 10 to October 13 at the various venues. In the evening Aarti will be held where people make offerings to the Goddess.
During the Durga Puja festivities Sandhi Puja is very important. This signifies the moment, when Mahishashur, the demon king is believed to have been killed by the Goddess. It will fall around the afternoon on October 12. This also marks the time when Ashtami yields place to Navami.He further said daily cultural festivities to enthrall the crowd with variety of programmes including dance, dramas and songs have been planned. Apart from this, Puja Committee also intends to hold several competitions like fancy dress, essay writing and drawing competitions for children, conch blowing competition for women and candle lighting competition for men.
A big food court is also being set up at Raipur Durga Puja venue to provide the crowd mouth watering dishes. Plans are also afoot to fix a big screen for the crowd to see the Aarti and stage programmes in a better way. The festivities will culminate with the Sindur Khel followed by the immersion ceremony of the Goddess on October 14. Chakraborty further said that if Dehradun is taken into consideration, then the first Durga Puja was held here in Bengali library in 1924. Subsequently, the Durga Puja at Hathibarhkala commenced in 1943, followed by that in Raipur in 1944. Presently, it is celebrated at 11 places, spread all over the city.