With the installation of idols of Goddess Durga at some leading puja pandals including at Hathua Market, Machaudhari, Nai Sarak (Sanatan Dharm Inter College) and some others on the auspicious occasion of Sasthi here on Friday, the Durga Puja fervour has gripped Kashi and it will reach its peak on Saptami when the ‘pran pratistha’ (installation) of idols will be done at all the rest of the pandals in the city, which is popularly known as ‘Mini Kolkata’. The festival will be at its peak on the occasion of Ashtami and Navmi.
Durga Puja has already started with the installation of idols on the first day of Shardiya Navratra at five places on the very first day of Navratri and they are Sarvajanik Durgotsav Samiti at Townhall, Maa Durga Pujanotsav Samiti at Daranagar, Maa Durga Puja Navyuvak Samiti at Navapura, Sarda Mandir at Ghai Ghat and SB Durgotsdav Samiti at Sudia. Machaudhari’s pandal has been given a shape of Vishwanath Temple of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) while Hathua Market’s idol of a famous temple of Karnataka.
In the district as many as 601 Durga Puja pandals are being made in the 28 police stations but out of them 250-odd pandals are in the city areas. The district administration and Police department have made all arrangements to ensure peaceful conduct of the festival. Besides, the Fire Brigade department has also issued necessary fire safety guidelines to the puja pandals in order to avoid any untoward incident. It is expected that by Tuesday evening, the rush of the visitors will increase in many areas like Lahurabir, Maidagin, Chowk, Godowlia, Luxa, Sonarpura, Bhelupur, Pandeypur, Shivpur, Bhojubir and other places where many big pandals would be set up. These areas have already been glittered with attractive lighting arrangements. Meanwhile, according to a notification from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the OPD of Sir Sunderlal Hospital (SSH) will remain closed on October 23 and November 13 due to the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali respectively.