Durga Puja Festivity Grips Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: With only one day left for Durga Puja celebration, the people of Lakhimpur have plunged into a festive environment on the auspicious occasion. The devotees are all set ready to worship the deity with deep devotion, installing her on the altar on Monday on Sasthi Tithi of the fortnight. Durga Puja will be celebrated at 88 venues across Lakhimpur district this year. The district administration has granted permission to 88 Puja committees till date. Out of them, Puja will be celebrated in 79 venues under North Lakhimur subdivision while the goddess will be worshipped at nine venues in Dhakuakhona subdivision.

In the Sri Sri Iswari Harhi Dewalaya under Dhakuakhona subdivision, the 296th Durga Puja will be celebrated with traditional rituals this year. This Dewalaya was set up by Ahom king Swargadew Gaurinath Singha in 1722, bringing a part of Kechaikhati Tamreswari Mandir of Sadia and five families of a special community of the place. Since then, Durga Puja has been celebrated in the Dewalaya with animal sacrifice.

Durga Puja will be celebrated with traditional fervour at the historic Sri Sri Ma Manipuri Aai Than along with four other venues at Ghilamora under the subdivision. On the other hand, the historic Panchanan Dewalaya, Baithawati Than and Maa Padumoni Aai Than under North Lakhimpur subdivision are all set ready to worship the goddess with traditional and spiritual fervour. Though 15 Puja mandaps are set up under North Lakhimpur municipal area, this year Puja will not be celebrated at Nakari where it is generally organized with gaiety and fervour. The Puja committees of Laluk, Nowboicha, Bihpuriya, Narayanpur Boginadi, Harmutty and Panigaon have also completed their preparations.

In the wake of the Guwahati blast by ULFA (I) on Saturday, Lakhimpur district police have tightened security measures to avert any kind of untoward incident. In addition to police, paramilitary forces are vigilant across the district.