MANGALDAI, Oct 26 - With the devotees bidding a tearful adieu to Goddess Durga on Monday, the celebration of the mega festival Durga Puja in Darrang district along with the rest of the State came to an end. Durga Puja was observed with a five-day-long programme but under a COVID-induced panic-stricken environment with restrictions following health protocols. The spirit of the festival suffered more in the first three days due to incessant rainfall since the evening of Mahasasthi as footfalls of the devotees in the puja mandaps on these days was very much limited.
However, the atmosphere of Mahanavami evening was completely different with the weather becoming quite pleasant. A large number of devotees and visitors thronged the puja mandaps and some mandaps due to continuous flow of visitors, had even to be kept open after the stipulated time as stated in the SOP of the administration. The same was the situation in case of the restaurants, especially the roadside dhabas witnessing a rush of puja revellers till late hours beyond the deadline. This time, the number of pujas in the district was much less than the previous years and nearly 80 puja organisers had moved the administration to accord permission against the 188 last year. However, the figure may increase as many puja committees function without obtaining necessary permission from the administration.
These pujas included the more than 400-year-old historic puja of the Royal Koch dynasty separately at three Howlis � Gakhir Khowa Howly, Dangar Howly and Mohanpur Howli near here. In most of the pujas, the committees this time preferred performing puja by installing �ghat� instead of idols. But there were many other organisers who performed puja with idols relatively much lesser in size keeping in mind the restrictions due to pandemic situation.
Meanwhile, the district civil and police administration under some SOPs, made arrangements for the smooth immersion ceremony of the idols of goddess Durga on Monday. Accordingly, six immersion places along the Mangaldai river, Tongani river at Dhula, Bornadi river at Dumunichuki, Nanoi river at Dolonghat, Sukhajani river in Dalgaon and the rivulet of Brahmaputra at Melaghat in Kharupetia were notified by the administration with adequate security vigil. Similarly, a maximum of ten persons, including the driver and handyman have been allowed against each puja committee for participation in the immersion ceremony to regulate the gatherings while prohibiting any immersion procession, said the police.
