Mahalaya celebrated in subdued manner in Barak Valley

SILCHAR: COVID-19 has cast its dark shadow over Mahalaya celebration across the valley of Barak. The district administration has imposed strict restrictions on the assembly of people and adherence to COVID-19 protocol. This has the desired result. Even before dawn in the melting darkness of night, people woke up to put their radio sets or recorded video on to listen to the legendary voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra on Mahalaya, invoking the advent of autumn in all its beauty and colour of nature and the return of Goddess Durga with her children from Mount Kailash to this mortal earth. It is like auguring the greatest Hindu festival of Durga Puja.

It was for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic that went through lockdowns and now unlock that there appeared drastic change in the mindset of people, more due to the fear psychosis created by mounting death and rise in positive cases and the warning by the administration to violators of protocol than by the sense of discipline. And in memory, as people indoors said, such subdued celebration has not occurred.

Very few people, mostly young, turned out on streets, maintaining social distance and with masks which witnessed no roaring, whistling or gesticulation by bike riders. There was no crowding, mirth and jollity as seen every year. It was no doubt a pleasant and welcome sight, said Shankar Dey, general secretary of Silchar Press Club. Nor was there any variety when people conventionally were accustomed to see it on roads. This also indicated the Puja celebration which is still a month to go will also be a low key affair.

This was also the scenario from Hailakandi and Karimganj, a relief and a great lesson for the administration how indiscipline on roads and public places could be reined in. An NGO in Karimganj did the best job of creating awareness about observing guidelines, distributing free books on teachings of Vivekananda, offering people chocolates and drinking water. Any holy occasion celebration becomes more serene and sublime with greater sense of discipline, opined Chandan Roy, a senior citizen of the border town.

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