TEZPUR, Oct 23 - Keeping in mind the risk posed by COVID 19, the big-budget Durga Puja organisers of Tezpur are not celebrating the festival on a grand scale. The district administration had instructed to the puja committees to celebrate the puja by strictly following the COVID-19 protocols.
Lighting arrangements and decorations were not as elaborate as in the previous years. Cultural programmes have also been prohibited in the puja venues.
Old pujas like the one organised by the Mukharjee Family near Tezpur Sadar Police station, which has crossed 150 years, is being celebrated in a simple manner this year. Subrata Mukharjee, a member of the Mukharjee family, said that only a couple of persons have been allowed to enter the puja pandal at a time for the sake of social distancing. The 106-year-old Bahbari Usha Natya Mandir community puja has gone for only �ghot puja� this year instead of installing an idol. Likewise, the historic Baan Theatre puja will only perform day-long puja on Navami. The 78-year-old Mahadev Sharma puja will also be performed sans idol this year.
Similarly, the 92-year-old Kamrupi Sanatan Dharma Mandali and 58-year-old Nepali Patti Yuba Sangha are performing the puja without idols.
This Durga Puja of ex-police line, Parbatia Sarbojonin Durga Puja, Majgaon community puja, Ushanagar community Durga Puja, the 122-year-old Bengali Theatre Hall community puja, Garwanpatti community puja, Kacharigaon-Amullapatty community puja, Dekargaon community puja, among others, have also opted for low-key celebration.
