Shillong, Oct 14: Amidst tight security ever witnessed in Meghalaya particularly Shillong, the immersion of 65 idols at the riverbank of Wahumkhrah, Polo Grounds took place today as devotees bid farewell to their goddess Durga Maa in a jubilant conclusion.
This year the immersion of goddess Durga took place with but a tiniest drizzle as the sky looming large with dark clouds only to fade away soon after noon.
Another aspect that has dimmed the mood of the celebration is the current agitation called by the NGOs demanding implementation of ILP.
It is a fact that unlike in the previous years, many devotees have shunned away from visiting other puja pandals around the city for fear of untoward incident.
“As you are aware, there is apprehension and tension in the air although it was low key on the first day, the second and third day saw many people coming out however they preferred to stay in their own localities,” said Naba Bhattacharjee a Central Puja Committee (CPC) member while speaking to this reporter.
It is heartening to see men, women and children clad in their best traditional attire some dancing to the beat of the drums and the sound of the conch others emotionally touched by the departure of Maa Durga as they walked along with the procession towards the immersion ghat.
Exhilarated young men could be seen playfully splashing about in the murky waters of Wahumkhrah after the rituals of immersing their goddesses.
This year Maa Durga had come on a carriage ‘palki’ and departed on an elephant which is considered to be a good sign for the believers.
CPC member JL Das said, “Maa durga has departed on an elephant which is a good sign for us.”
Naba Bhattacharjee further said, “Durga Puja has now become a social event and no more a religious festival; everyone cooperated and Shillong once again rose on its own to uphold the secular credentials with full cooperation from all section of the society in this cosmopolitan city.”
Commenting on the District Administration’s part of conducting the procession of devotees to the immersion ghat, an ecstatic devotee said that it has been 10 years since this festival has gone so smoothly than expected.
“After 10 years that there has been no confrontation between the devotees and the administration because this time they have really cooperated with us and handled every situation professionally, and we are very happy with it,” the devotee Joydeep Das said.(SP News)
