AALAMI (DERGAON), Oct 16 - Against the backdrop of the day of Lakshmi Puja, no light was seen in several villages in greater Brahmaputra area in Golaghat district on Saturday. The rituals that are being continued on the day of Lakshmi Puja in those villages come to a halt due to the devastating flood as well as the sudden attack of �army worm� in the paddy fields.
As a result, not a single rice plant is alive in the paddy field of the areas. �Though we are continuing the ritual of lighting earthen lamps, joars (lighting with the fire of set of fire wood) etc., in the paddy fields as well as in the residence on the day of Lakhshmi Puja, but this time we are in no need to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi as not a single rice plant is alive in our paddy fields,� said Jiban Saikia, an octogenarian of Aalami.
The villages like Aalami, Ruhita, Selek, Pathari, Kemeri, Banqual, Upper Temera, Tikirai Chapori etc., were badly affected by the flood for three times. The paddy fields were so damaged that no sign of planting rice saplings were seen. After the second flood, the villagers cultivated the paddy crops in the fields, but the last flood ruined into a heap of sand only.
In addition to that, the �army worm� completed the whole task leaving a desert-like field. �So there is no need of giving lamps in the fields to welcome the Goddess Lakhsmi,� Sewali Bora of Ruhita village said.
�There is no need to celebrate the Kati Bihu on Monday as they have no production this year,� said a villager. Similarly, the farmers of Marangi area also echoed the same sentiments saying, �There is no need to light a lamp in the paddy fields on the day of Lakshmi Puja or Kati Bihu as the paddy cultivation has seriously been damaged by pachyderms in the areas.�
