GUWAHATI, Oct 18 � In keeping with its tradition, the First National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) organized a three-day Durga Puja function at its Patgaon campus, Azara.
The dazzling statues of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati together with a panoramic theme of �Paharo vali Ma (Goddess of the Hills) created the perfect puja ambience that drew thousands of spectators to the mandap. The theme was depicted against a backdrop of a snow-clad mountain with forests and rivulets cascading down the feet of Goddess Durga. Below was a lake in which NDRF rescuers were shown carrying out rescue operations.
CP Saxena, Commandant 01 NDRF said, �The genesis of the theme has come out of recent natural disasters in form of cloudbursts in Leh and Laddakh and at many places in Uttrakhand along the Himalayan region. We pray to the Goddess to bless us to fight disasters and save precious human lives.�
Giving an account of the activities of the NDRF in the North-East, Saxena said that the NDRF rescuers remain busy in carrying out rescue operations and conducting disaster management training in all the NE States. He said that celebration of such programmes by involving all NDRF personnel with families and children would ease the mental fatigue and exhaustion of the rescuers and unite them with the spiritual power to refresh and prepare them to fight disasters with vigour and enthusiasm.
Durga Puja comes at the time when the most threatening monsoon season in Assam comes to an end.
The Puja arena was developed by the rescuers of 01 NDRF in a befitting manner. The families and children under the guidance of Honey Saxena, president, 01 NDRF Women and Children Welfare Association, organized a puja function and a cultural programme.
The three-day celebrations from October 14 to 17 included various cultural activities together with the ceremonial observance of Vedic puja rituals. The cultural items were presented by the 01 NDRF orchestra group (SPANDAN), Song & Drama Division, Guwahati, and children of Patgaon campus on all the three days.
