Durga Puja festival ends under COVID-19 shadow in Silchar

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The Durga Puja festival of 2020 would be remembered for being totally different that began and ended under the shadow of COVID-19. There was neither mirth nor jollity. Nor was there any extravaganza during celebration and immersion. The strict rules and guidelines issued by the district administration to all the 500 puja committees of Silchar, Udharbond, Katigorah, Sonai and Lakhipur circles of Cachar brought about a total semblance of restraint and discipline and a cause of appreciation for people in general. It is also for the first time in recent memory after years of noise and bustle in the name of holy celebration that the 3-day Puja this time did set an example to emulate, COVID or no COVID.

From late morning, idols of Goddess Durga from community and home pandals of Silchar circle started moving towards the Sadarghat immersion point without sound and music system with restricted number of committee members and devotees. Immersion has to end by 6pm. As the evening rolls out to melt into darkness of night, the frequency of immersion from slow pace has upped to bid adieu to Goddess Durga within the slotted schedule. There has been no distribution of prasad among the pandal hoppers. No offering of 'anjali' to the chanting of mantras by priests. All to avoid milling of crowd to keep pandemic COVID-19 at a bay.

Weather God has also not been kind to spoil the festive spirit. From Shasthi to Navami noon, it has been raining. Puja devotees could venture to go out after sun blazed with dark clouds hovering across the sky for darshan of the Goddess in pandals. What makes the puja a different experience is simple and low budget pandals, maintaining sanctity and serenity. The usual traditional 'sindoor-khela' among the married women, a ritual before the idols of Goddess before being taken for immersion to seek Her blessings for peace, prosperity and happiness has been missing. It was no doubt a pensive moment with melancholic note as the idols were being immersed one after another in river Barak.

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