Amidst tight security arrangements and echo of hundreds of devotees, including the men, women and children chanting 'Asche bochor abar hobe' (See you next year), the Durga Puja, one of the greatest festivals of the city, ended on Sunday with immersion of Goddess Durga’s idols in the rivers all over.
Festivity gripped the devotees as married women smeared the goddess and her children with red vermilion and offered sweets and prayed for the well-being of their families and long lives of their husbands.
SSP, East Singhbhum Amol V Homkar said that law and order machinery have been pressed into service with full speed to ensure peaceful conduct of the festival, with additional police force being deployed at several strategic locations. About 371 magistrates and more than 400 police officials across 11 blocks and 33 police stations in the district were deployed.
Tight security arrangements were made at the river banks of Kharkai and Subarnarekha launches were kept ready to rescue people in case of emergencies, the police said. JUSCO had especially arranged divers and rescue team to ensure safety.
A panel has been constituted by the district administration for judging pandals and idols for annual puja awards. “We are happy to note that the festival ended peacefully. The awards will be decided during the post Durga puja review meeting to be held by the district administration,” Rambabu Singh of Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Committee.