HT Correspondent
DEMOW, Oct 2: On the occasion of Mahalaya, the people of Demow gathered early Wednesday morning to offer prayers for their deceased family members and ancestors. It is believed that on Mahalaya, Goddess Durga descends to Earth. The ritual offerings were conducted at the Demow River, where residents prayed for their departed loved ones. Many also held prayer rituals in their homes to honour their ancestors.
Our Jorhat correspondent adds: Jorhat wore a festive air as people came out in large numbers in the early hours on Wednesday on the occasion of Mahalaya to welcome the earthly sojourn of Goddess Durga, heralding the beginning of the Durga Puja celebrations.
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Men, women, and children, holding balloons and blowing plastic horns, thronged the streets for several hours, building up the festive fervour of the puja. Several puja organisers took out processions and tableaux, accompanied by vehicles playing devotional songs and hymns on loudspeakers, and sung by devotees aboard the vehicles with support from musicians.
Devotional dance performances by youngsters (both male and female) were presented on makeshift stages at street corners.
The weather remained favourable as there were no showers, unlike the previous days. Roadside stalls selling sweets and snacks were set up and did brisk business.
Hawkers with balloons and toys were also seen on the streets, as policemen maintained a vigil while people moved across the streets.
