GUWAHATI, Sept 29 - Perhaps no other festival evokes such enthusiasm as Durga Puja. With the festivities just round the corner, the euphoria has caught the citizens, traders, vendors, puja committees and almost everyone in the capital city.
The gateway to the Northeast is getting ready to celebrate the much awaited festival of the year with pomp and glitter. While the commercial establishments have decked up their exteriors with colourful lightings, the puja committees are fast-tracking their preparations which are nearing completion.
Like in the previous years, Durga Puja at Lakhi Mandir, Beltola will highlight social issues, particularly the need for conservation of nature. Bhagyaram Terang, who is in charge of the decorations at Lakhi Mandir, said that the festival provides an opportunity to take relevant messages to a large section of people. �Our budget is around Rs 16 lakh and we will depict the Kaziranga National Park and the need for its conservation through images of rhino, deer, elephant etc,� said Terang, adding that there would be other marvels for the pandal hoppers.
The New Field Durga Puja Committee is giving more thrust on the idol. The idol will be eco-friendly and gold jewellery will be used to decorate it. The budget is Rs 10 lakh and the puja committee has decided to keep the expenditure minimum keeping in mind the recent price hike.
For the Geetanagar Durga Puja Committee, the theme is Chotta Bhim. Plastic will not be used inside the pandal and bamboo has been used extensively. Their budget is Rs 25 lakh.
The Santipur Sluice Gate Durga Puja Committee will have a 70-feet high pandal. The interior will be highlighting women empowerment, and there would be a lot of other attractions for the puja revellers. The budget is around Rs 17 lakh.
Majuli and its heritage is the theme for Noonmati Sector 2 Durga Puja. A huge river boat has been constructed to communicate the theme.
Fancy Bazar Puja Celebration Committee has decided not to give emphasis on embellishments and instead is focusing on the spiritual aspect of the festival. Member of the Committee Romen Das informed that the budget has been kept at Rs 10 lakh.
On the other hand, the budget for the Guwahati Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti, Latasil is around Rs 15 lakh. Working president of the Samity Bhabesh Kalita informed that all arrangements like installing CCTV cameras, dustbins, temporary toilets will be in place to ensure that puja revellers have a good time.
