Thousands of people thronged Durga Puja pandals on Wednesday as devotees ushered in ‘Mahashtami’ – the most auspicious day of Durga Puja, with prayers and Pushpanjali – offering flowers to the goddess Durga. Beautifully crafted idols of the goddess were adorned with fine jewellery and flowers at the various pandals set up in Station club,Punch Mandir, and Bokaro club by the Bengali and others communities here.

While Mahashtami is no less than a carnival for the Bengali community, scores of devotees from all communities flocked to the pandals for the festivities, prayers and to enjoy the delicious bhog. ?"We make it a point to enjoy the Sandhi Puja, which is performed on the evening of Mahashtami and Navmi, where we offer a saree, flowers, sweets and dakshina to the goddess. As my both sons are working in USA and Patna, I miss being there as Puja festivities are very different there. However, it is always a joy to be part of the community gatherings around Durga Puja,” said Shyama Kumari, principal  of Government school and a resident of GM colony of Bokaro thermal.

"The event is funded by employees of DVC, BTPS and the pandals are always open not just for the Bengali community but also for others from the neighbourhood includes Phusro, Bermo, Gomia and Nawadih. We served the traditional bhog prasad like khichari to some 5000 devotees," said Krishnan Murari, secretary of Punch Mandir Puja pandals. “I’ve been in BTPS for 40 years and many Bengalis live in Bokaro thermal,  We organize cultural programmes – musical events and plays – so that our children stay in touch with the language and other elements of Bengali culture,” said Kuntal Dutta, a resident of Nishanhut in Bokaro thermal.