GUWAHATI, Oct 16 - Saturday�s bomb blast at Fancy Bazar could not act as a deterrent for Puja revellers as was evident from the huge crowds that thronged the Durga Puja pandals in the city today, on Saptami day.
While there was a fairly thin presence of devotees at the pandals in the daytime, the crowds swelled towards the evening. Devotees in large numbers were seen offering prayers to Goddess Durga.
According to police estimates, Durga Puja is being celebrated at over 500 venues in the city this time.
�The misdeeds of extremists will not stop the common people from enjoying the festival. Hope Maa Durga will eliminate all anti-social forces from the earth,� Rajen Deka, a devotee who offered prayers at Chandmari Puja venue said.
On the other hand, heavy traffic snarls were seen in various major roads of the city in the evening, with all attempts by traffic police to regulate the traffic proving futile. At times the situation tended to become severe during movement of VIPs� and VVIPs� convoys.
�It becomes a challenge for us to control the traffic when a convoy of a VIP or VVIP is on the road. On the other hand, undisciplined roadside parking worsens the situation,� a harried police official said.
Moreover, huge crowds of shoppers were seen in every shopping mall and market of the city.
Meanwhile, at the Durga Puja venue organised by Santi Sabha in Kumarpara area of the city, the organisers felicitated 30 boarders of Mother Old Age Home today as part of the celebration.
