HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Sept 24: People thronged the main thoroughfares of Jorhat in the wee hours on Sunday on the occasion of Mahalaya to welcome the earthly sojourn of Goddess Durga heralding the beginning of the Durga Puja celebrations.
Men, women and children holding balloons, came out for several hours, ushering in the festive spirit of Durga puja.
The number of people was much more than last year as the state returned to pre-Covid-19 pandemic days.
Several puja organisers took out processions accompanied by vehicles and played devotional songs and hymns on loudspeakers. Devotees were also seen singing on board the vehicles with support from musicians. A decked-up elephant was also taken out in a procession.
The weather too remained favourable as there were no showers that had been disrupting puja shopping activities in the past few days.
Roadside stalls selling sweets, snacks too were put up like earlier times and attracted people. Hawkers with balloons and toys too were seen on the streets. Policemen maintained a vigil during the period as people moved across the streets.