With about a month left in Durga Puja the committees prepare for simple puja this year. Not only those committees that used to erect huge pandals and decorative lighting at Bhuli,Saraidhela, Katras and other locations but the management committee of the Hirapur Hari Mandir has decided to make it a low key affair to ensure safety of visitors. The committee, holding puja since 1933, has decided just to install small idols of the Mother Goddess and other deities and complete the daily puja rituals. “We would upkeep traditions of worshiping the Goddess as per norms . Even the visarjan would be done in a traditional manner by taking the idols on shoulder from pandal to pond . However, there would be several other changes for common visitors,” said Parth Sengupta, general secretary of the committee that met on Monday evening for discussing the flow of events.
There would be no entry of people inside the temple premises and all would have to pay obeisances from the main gate maintaining the Covid norms ,he said. The most popular fair and cultural events that used to be the main attraction of the puja days here would not be there this year, said Parth.
“We would also seek proper permission from administration and CCTV cameras would be there to keep tab on events,” said another member S Parmanik. The pushpanjali also would be a controlled event.
Meanwhile, the Durga puja committees in separate letters to the deputy commissioner have requested for granting permission for holding the puja with simplicity and abiding by Corona protocols .
GANPAT Mahto of Saraidhela Puja committee said, the height of idols would not exceed five feet and devotees would be screened ahead of giving entry into the pandal.There would be minimum decoration and small pandal than previous years, said Mahto.
It’s worth mentioning that the Mahalaya that marks the beginning of the puja is to be held on September 17 . However, Durga Puja would commence after a month’s time in October according to Hindu panchang , said Jitendar Tiwari a priest of local temple.
