SILCHAR, Oct 8 - Durga Puja celebrations came to a close peacefully across Barak Valley on Tuesday. Even as a heavy drizzle and late night shower on Mahashtami and Maha Navami spoiled the joy to an extent, revellers were seen enjoying every moment of the festive days.
With the Cachar district administration and police maintaining close vigil, the immersion process towards Sadarghat, the central location for immersion of the idols began as early as 7:55 am. Cachar Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri greeted the people of Cachar and Barak Valley on the occasion of Bijoya Dashami and congratulated all for a peaceful Durga Puja. However, there were some sporadic incidents of clashes and road accidents during the past two days.
In Silchar, pandals and idols at Shyamaprasad Road Puja committee, Matri Mandir Puja Committee celebrating their golden jubilee year, Ambikapur-Hospital Road Purbapara Puja committee on its centenary celebrations drew huge crowds. A pandal at Meherpur displaying idols of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah alongside Goddess Durga was one of the major attractions this year.
Senior citizen Sanjay Bihari Deb of Malugram shared many facets about Durga Puja of their residence which he said is over 200-year-old. From idol making to the folklores and chores done by the married women of their family, Deb recollected many events during a brief talk with The Assam Tribune.
Dhrubo Paul, who works and resides in Mumbai now went down memory lane bringing back bygone moments from Mahalaya to Dashami in Silchar. �Coming back to hometown after seven years, I am elated to roam across the pandals with parents. I missed the pistol which was a must during our childhood,� Paul said.
Durga Puja concluded on a peaceful note in border town Karimganj. Dr Himadri Shekhar Das, faculty at Assam University Silchar shared his experiences of hopping across some of the pandals saying that the celebration exhibited variety of themes including avoiding use of plastic. In his words, pandals of Kushiyarkul Club and Sarbajanin Club portrayed the rich literature of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar while Satabhisha Club echoed the go green theme in their puja pandal.
Meanwhile, Additional SP (HQ) Debojit Nath informed that barring a minor accident, puja went by and large peaceful across the district. He informed that sufficient force has been deployed for the immersion of idols at Steamarghat immersion point and said the immersion will be held for two days.
Enhancing the festive spirit, Patherkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul distributed 120 quintals of aata and clothes to around 2000 families to the labourers of Hatikhira Tea Garden in Patherkandi constituency. Also labourers of Sopenjuri Beel Tea garden and Medly tea garden were given clothes and food items, he added.
