Joyous start to Durga Puja in Meghalaya

Oct 22, 2023, 08:49 IST

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Shillong: Durga Puja began on a joyous note across Meghalaya with people visiting various Puja pandals on Saptami on Saturday.
The Central Puja Committee (CPC), Meghalaya, a co-ordinating body of all Puja committees, Hindu institutions, mandir and festival committees had organised an all-faith get-together of harmony on October 18 on the Hindu Mission premises in the city to herald in the Pujas with participation from all sections of society.
“This year, there are 243 community and 11 private Durga Pujas in Meghalaya, including 123 in the Khasi Hills, 11 in the Jaintia Hills and 116 in the Garo Hills, totalling 250,” said JL Das, the general secretary of the CPC, Meghalaya.
There are 64 community and eight private Durga Pujas in state capital Shillong.

One of CPC’s popular drum-beating competitions will be held on October 22 (Mahashtami) from 10.30 am at Puja pandal of Rilbong Durga Puja committee, Shillong.
A series of routine joint meetings between CPC/puja committees and district civil and police administration were held where points/issues relating to peaceful celebration of Durga Puja Festival were discussed.
Meanwhile, cultural programmes and various competitions are being held in the Puja pandals, attracting the youth and elders alike.

On the other hand, several visitors from other states have also come over to Meghalaya for Puja vacation.
“Guesthouses at Sohra (Cherrapunjee) and other places, including Dawki, near the Indo-Bangla border are packed with visitors, mostly from West Bengal and neighbouring Assam,” said the driver of a local tourist taxi.
Visitors are also thronging the over 600-year-old Durga temple at Nartiang in the Jainta Hills, which is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

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