RAHA, Oct 6 - Like the previous years, the Durga Puja celebrations began here with Vedic hymns of Devi mantra, playing of conch and beating of drums from Friday. The five-day celebration of Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu community, has brought a festive look to Raha town with due religious fervour and solemnity everywhere.
The festival beginning from Friday will end on October 8 when the Hindus celebrate Bijoya Dasami through the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga, leaders of the Durga Puja Udjapan Committees said.
There are four Puja pandals in Raha town. There are 11 pandals at Chaparmukh, one each at Barapujia and Phulaguri. The Puja mandaps have been decorated colourfully with eye-catching looks. Lavishly decorated welcome gates are catching up too with each puja committee diverting a major share of their collection towards them. According to an estimate, erecting huge bamboo gates, electronic gates with colourful lights cost between Rs 1 lakh to 2 lakh for each pandal.
The local administration has completed all necessary preparations to ensure peaceful puja celebrations. The administration has urged all concerned , including the puja committees and common citizens, to extend their cooperation to the administration so that during the festival no untoward incident takes place. The sub-divisonal office of the Electricity department has taken special steps to provide uninterrupted power supply during nights to enable the devotees in their prayers other religious rituals.
