HT Bureau
DIPHU, Sept 28: The festive spirit has gripped Diphu town as Durga Puja, one of the most significant festivals of the Hindus, commenced on Sunday with the observance of Shashthi.
The five-day religious and cultural celebration, beginning on Sunday, will conclude on October 2 with the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga on Vijayadashami.
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Across Diphu town and Birla, puja pandals have been decked up with vibrant lighting and artistic decorations, drawing large numbers of devotees and visitors.
The day began with bodhon, or the consecration of the idol of Goddess Durga at the puja mandaps, followed by maha shashti puja, a special invocation dedicated to the goddess.
After the ritual prayers, the idols were unveiled and devotees offered flowers, fruits and sweets, seeking blessings for peace and prosperity.
The atmosphere reverberated with the chanting of mantras and devotional songs, while in the evening traditional lamps were lit, symbolising the ushering in of festive light.
As dusk descended, crowds thronged the decorated pandals, soaking in the festive ambience.
Despite Sunday being a weekly closure for shops, the Greater Diphu Bazar Committee had requested traders to keep their establishments open for the convenience of festive shoppers.
Markets bustled with activity as families flocked to garment stores, selecting new clothes for the occasion, while children could be seen excitedly choosing toys, balloons and other play items displayed outside puja venues.
A distinctive feature of this year’s celebrations is the prominent display of portraits of Assam’s cultural icon and legendary singer, the late Zubeen Garg, at several mandaps.
Puja committees have installed his photographs as a mark of honour and remembrance, making his presence felt in the midst of the festivities.
At Dillaji Mithiphang, the Durga Puja mandap has drawn special attention as the organisers celebrate the Silver Jubilee of hosting the festival.
With this being the 25th year, the committee has gone the extra mile in lighting and decoration, creating an impressive attraction for devotees and visitors.
Organisers have also assured that proper arrangements have been made to accommodate the large footfall expected during the festive days and have appealed to people to join in the celebrations and offer prayers to Goddess Durga.
The Dharamnala mandap witnessed majestic adornment of Durga and her accompanying deities.
Following the consecration ceremony, devotees offered flowers, sweets and prayers in a deeply devotional atmosphere. At Binapani, the committee has taken a different approach by constructing an eco-friendly mandap using bamboo and thatch, lending it a traditional village look.
“Our children are too accustomed to artificial structures and modern styles. To revive our traditional forms, we decided to use bamboo and thatches to give the mandap an authentic, eco-friendly appearance,” explained Ajit Das, assistant secretary of the committee.
As the evening progressed, families and groups of friends could be seen visiting pandals, enjoying roadside eateries, bargaining in clothing shops and gathering at toy stalls, further adding to the vibrancy of the town.
The festive fervour is expected to intensify tomorrow on Saptami, when a larger number of devotees will throng the mandaps to offer flowers, fruits and prayers to Goddess Durga and seek her blessings for happiness and prosperity.
