Shillong: Two years after proper rituals could not be performed due to the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year, the biggest religious festival of the people of the Hindu faith, are set to celebrate Durga Puja most satisfactorily in the State.
In connection with the religious festival this year, the members of the Central Puja Committee (CPC) under the leadership of Naba Bhattacharjee, President, J.L.Das, General Secretary and a few other members, held a press conference to inform about the preparations with regard to this religious festival this year in the State, especially in Shillong.
In the press conference the leaders of the CPC informed that there are 11 Durga Puja Committees in the State that will be celebrating milestones in their journey since inception such as anniversaries of 50 to 100 and more years.
However, the most important part of the religious festival will be the completion of the rites and rituals of Durga Puja which will start from the 2nd of October to the 5th of October 2022, and this time the Durga Puja Committees (DPC) in the State totals to 257 in number, with 126 only in East Khasi Hills, 120 in Garo Hills, 11 in Jaiñtia Hills and added to that are 5 more which are of private individuals.
This year the 11 DPCs which will celebrate their special anniversaries counting from the year they were established are Sonathan Dharmasabha(Harisabha) 125 years, followed by Asomiya Namghar(Ruprekha) Lower Jail Road 100 years, Laban Namghar, Laban 100 years, Kench’s Trace DPC 75 years, AC Lane DPC, Police Bazar 75 years, Shree Shree Rajasthan ,Luckier Road, 60 years, Oakland Bivar Road, Oakland, 50 years, Laban Shiv Mandir, Laban 50 years while in Garo Hills, 3 DPCs will celebrate special anniversaries and these are Thakubari DPC Tura 75 years, Babupara, Mahendraganj 75 years and Chandaboi DPC Dalu 50 years.
As has been the practise on the 28th of September this year, the CPC will call a special meeting of the different religious leaders in the State known as the All Faith All Religion Get Together Harmony which will be held in Kench’s Trace Puja Pandal in which the Chief Guest will be the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K.Sangma.
In part to avoid any movement problems especially on the roads, the CPC has urged the fellow believers to try their best not to take their private cars but to use public transport instead since buses have also been arranged for dropping by the red buses of the Government, or of possible to walk on foot from one pandal to another.
