TEZPUR, Oct 17 - Durga puja will be celebrated by 148 puja committees in and around Tezpur town this year. The historic town and its adjoining areas are wearing a festive look with the attractively decorated pandals drawing the people�s attentions. This year many historic community pujas will attract the devotees public.
The people here will witness Goddess Durga at the Usha Nagar Yubak Sangha Puja in a traditional Assamese attire, while the Bhairab Nagar Durga bari Durga Puja celebration committee is trying to reflect the historic Tezpur city, through their cane and bamboo decorated pandal. In the said puja pandal, cultural icons Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha and the legendary bard Dr Bhupen Hazarika will have their due place of honour.
It may be mentioned that considered as the first family puja of the then undivided Darrang district, performed by the Mukherjee family near Tezpur Police Station here, has stepped into its 154th year. Likewise the historic family pujas of Gangacharan Bhattacharya of Kolibari, Gangaram Das of Tol Gereki area, the 72-year-old Durga Puja of noted freedom fighter Mohadev Sharma (who started the puja inside Tezpur Jail during the Quit India Movement when he was jailed), the 48-year-old Durga Puja of Iswar Prashad Chowdhury at Ganeshghat have been trying to attract the people of the town with unique decorations.
Besides this, the Rudrapal Samittee Durga Puja, the community puja performed jointly by the Bengali and Assamese people which has been going on since 1895 at the Bengali Theatre Hall, the Ban Theatre Durga Puja that started in 1909, the Kamrupia Sanatan Dharma Mandali Puja that has been celebrated since 1928, the old Ban theatre Durga Puja at Kolibari, Marwari Panchayat Dharmashala Durga Puja, Ram Krishna Sevasram Durga Puja, Mahabhairab Haribilash Durga Puja, Rubber Bagan Chandimandap Durga Puja, Madhya Para Dakhina Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Bhairab Nagar Tila Durga Puja, Nepali Patti-Madhya Tezpur Yubak Sangha Durga Puja, Lambudar Bora Road community Durga Puja, Barahalia Ajanta Club Durga Puja, Amullapatti Durga Puja by Friends Club, Tinmail Uriamguri Durga Puja, Jahaghat Hindustani Durga Puja, Kocharigaon Durga Puja, Kamarchuburi Durga Puja, Chanmari Durga Puja, Dadhora Bamunchuburi Durga Puja, Kumargaon Durga Puja, Murhateteli Durga Puja, Cotton Road Durga Puja, Luitpar Durga Puja, Mission Chariali Durga Puja, Balipukhuri Tiniali Durga Puja, Dipota Kendryia Natya Mandir 102 year-old Durga Puja and Milonpur Durga Puja committees have completed all preparations. The district administration has urged all concerned, including the puja committees and the common citizens to extend their cooperation to the administration, so that during the festival no untoward incident takes place.
