NALBARI, Oct 20 - Thousands of devotees thronged the historic Billeswar Devalaya of Belsor in Nalbari district to offer prayer to the Goddess Durga on Maha Navami Puja.The flow of visitors from various parts of the State began to the historic Devalaya since the morning. Despite the opposition of several nature-loving organisations, 38 buffaloes were sacrificed at the Devalaya on that day. According to Devalaya sources, a total of 53 buffaloes were registered for sacrifice. Of them, 15 were released after performing puja.Besides, hundreds of goats, pigeons, ducks were also sacrificed at the Devalaya. One buffalo was sacrificed at the Ulabari community Durga Puja on Navami. Thousands of goats, ducks and pigeons were also sacrificed at different puja pandals including at the Pith Balilecha Kalimandir and Bagheswari Devalaya of Adabari.
On the other hand, Kumari Puja was performed at Barkshetri Durga Mandir of Adattari near Mukalmua on the Navami Puja in the presence of a huge number of devotees. On Kumari Puja, nine minor girls were worshiped as nine forms of Devi Durga � Sailyaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandaghanta, Kusmanda, Scondamata, Katyani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Sidhidatri. Over 100 community puja pandals of the district wore a festive look during the festivities. The Community Durga Puja of Sri Sri Harimandir, Gopalbazar, College Chowk, Chowk Bazar, Bagals Chowk, Deharkuchi, Bijulighat, Tihu, Mukalmua, Ghograpar, Bar Nardi drew huge crowds on the Saptami, Astami and Navami pujas. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district during the puja.
TIHU: The �Ravan Dahan� programme of the 115th Tihu Durga Puja Mahotsav has completed 25 glorious years. In 1994, some young members of Amarjyoti Club of Tihu like Utpal Choudhury, Mantu Kalita, Gopal Sarma, Girish Talukdar, Kulen Mazumdar, Ratan Medhi, Naba Kalita, Bharat Talukdar, Diganta Sarma, Himadri Sarma and many others started this programme and at present it has completed 25 years. This year, the celebration committee felicitated the young artists.
This year, the �Ravan Dahan� programme was formally inaugurated by Sanjib Kumar Das, DC, Nalbari in the presence of Siladitya Chetia, SP, Nalbari at the Tihu High School playground. About 20,000 people witnessed the programme.
Meanwhile, like in previous years, this year also devotees in large numbers were seen offering prayers to Goddess Durga at the Tihu Durga Puja pandal.
LUMDING: Along with the rest of the State, Durga Puja festival was celebrated at Lumding with gaiety. This year, a total of 47 community pujas were organised.
Among 47 pujas, mention may be made of the puja pandals and idols of �Kalibari�, Manasha Bari, South Hill Colony, Nadirpar Sitla Bari (Harulongpher), Jagriti Sangha, Uttar Lumding (North), Jana Kalyan Sangha, Brick-Field-Yubak Sangha, Thakur Bari Road, Lumding Bazar, Ram Krishna Mission, New Colony etc.
Elaborate security arrangements were made by Lumding PS for ensuring peace and during the immersion programmes, which passed away peacefully.
KOKRAJHAR: Durga Puja was also celebrated here in Kokrajhar district with customary gaiety and fervour. Thousands of devotees belonging to all age groups thronged every puja mandap during the puja days.
This time, around 70 sarbajanin pujas were organised throughout Kokrajhar district, out of which 40 were held in Kokrajhar town. This time, the pandal of Santinagar area attracted the people because of the lighting and decoration.
Thousands of people gathered at the bank of Gaurang river, Kokrajhar to immerse the idols.
HAILAKANDI: Hailakandi Press Club gave away Sharod Shiropa award to five Durga puja committees of Hailakandi district this year in different categories.
Club Rudrani of Boalipar was given the best rural puja award while Sri Ramakrishna Seva Samiti was given the award for reception and maintaining discipline. Ram Narayan Tank Puja Committee was given award for best idol. Purba Para Durga Puja Committee was given the award as best attractive puja while Police Reserve Durga Puja Committee was given award for best decoration of pandal. The secretary of Hailakandi Press Club, Rahul Chakraborty informed that they give away awards every year to encourage the organisers.
Durga Puja celebrations passed off smoothly and peacefully with the immersion of deities of Goddess Durga at different immersion sites across Hailakandi district.
Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan thanked the devotees, organisers and the police for making the festival joyous, peaceful and disciplined.
GAURIPUR: The five-day Durga Puja festival came to an end on Saturday with the immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga in the Gangadhar river today. It is to be mentioned here that the devotees of Goddess Durga of the greater Golakganj area immerse the idols traditionally on �Ekadashi� tithi every year.
People in large numbers including women and children dressed in traditional attire lined up on both the banks of the river Gangadhar to bid farewell to Goddess Durga, the idols of which were brought on trucks in procession accompanied by the beating of drums and shouting of slogans. The idol of Akalbodhan Durga Puja was also immersed on the western bank of the river. The immersion ceremony began this afternoon at 5 pm near the Golakganj Police station on the eastern bank and at Kanuri ghatpar on the western bank. Thirty two idols of Goddess Durga along with her siblings were immersed in the turbulent Gangadhar river. At Gauripur, the immersion had passed off peacefully yesterday.
BADARPUR: Durga Puja was celebrated with traditional religious fervour and gaiety at Badarpur and across Karimganj district peacefully, This year, the total number of pujas in Badarpur and its adjoining areas was more than 200.
During the puja days, the whole area wore a festive look, and the excitement was evident especially among the children, who dressed in their best attire, thronged each pandal. Various roads of Badarpur teemed with people, well upto midnight.
The final day of Bijoya Dashami was marked by the tumultuous presence of devotees. Children too joined in seeking devine blessings, by placing their books and pens at the feet of the the Goddess Durga. The womenfolk playfully smeared sindoor on each other. The idols were then immersed at the Badarpur ghat.
