TURA, Sept 29 - With Durga Puja, the biggest festival for the Hindus in the Garo Hills, just about a week away, the region is all set to welcome Goddess Durga with more than 71 pandals set up just in the district of West Garo Hills.
Tura, the biggest town in Garo Hills, will see at least 24 pandals, with thousands of devotees expected to seek blessings from Mother Durga across all four days. The last day �Dashami� is the most-looked-forward event for Hindus in the region.
Mahalaya, which marks the start of Durga�s journey home, was celebrated on Saturday. Celebrations begin on the sixth day (Sasthi), on which the goddess is welcomed with rituals. The festival ends on the tenth day (Vijaya Dashami), when devotees embark on a procession carrying the clay idols to a river or any other water body to immerse them, symbolic of her return to the divine cosmos and her marital home with Lord Shiva in Kailash.
Speaking on the arrangements for the upcoming festival, Superintendent of Police Dr MGR Kumar said, �We have held two rounds of meetings with the Central Puja Committee (CPC) as well as met peace committee members for proper law and order arrangements. Vigilance has been stepped up with additional forces being deployed in puja mandaps. Further �naka� checks and patrolling will also be undertaken.�
