SIVASAGAR, Oct 5 - Durga Puja festivities got off to a colourful start here yesterday.
At the 85-year old Barowari Puja Samity at KPM Hall, Dayal Khound, president of the committee, hoisted the religious flag while Guri Bhagawati inaugurated the puja festivities.
The souvenir Kattyayini will be released by Dr Lakshmi Priya, DC, Sivasagar on October 6 which will be followed by a cultural extravaganza to showcase local talents as well as artists from different places.
Puja has begun in right earnest at the historic Ahom era Devi Doul, century-old Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samittee near Muktinath Charialai, Station Chariali Puja Samittee, Marowari Patty Durgutsov Samittee, Laksminagar Puja samittee and Nepali Baba Durga Puja Samittee.
Durga Puja at Devi Doul is regarded as of special significance as many animal sacrifices are done on Saptami and Navami puja to propitiate Goddess Durga. But over the years due to increased awareness of animal rights and elevation in the literacy rate, the number of sacrifices has dropped considerably. Jiten Borthakur, a priest in Devi Doul told this correspondent that nearly 300 goats and ducks were sacrificed and the number may drop further due to the recent verdict of Agartala High Court banning animal sacrifice.
