In Jamshedpur, Durga Puja is more than just a festival. Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the eastern India and one of the most important Hindu festivals, is not just a time for worship and ritualism.
Of course, those are inseparable from any festival, but Durga Puja means much more than these. The city is known for its festivities related to the Puja. Climatically, the month of Ashvin (the time of Durga Puja) is a relatively 'good' one for India. The height of summer
the floods of the monsoon are both past, giving way to clear skies and a crisp air.
For many pujas, it is also an occasion for 'homecoming'. A large number of students pursuing higher education in metro cities look forward every year to come back home and spend time at home during the puja.
This year too a bunch of youths are in the city visiting the city and enjoying every moment of it.
Shudhanshu Kumar, a BCom student studying in Mumbai, says "For me pujas are more than just a festival. It is that time of year which gives me a moment to meet my old friends. Spending days during pujas remain etched in the heart forever. "It is simply impossible to describe the atmosphere of Durga Puja in Jamshedpur to someone who has not seen it for himself or herself," he noted.
The ambience, the fervour, the sounds of dhak – all these create such a celebratory mood that one cannot but be swept away by it." Neeta, who now works in New Delhi and enjoys Durga Puja at Circuit House Area, feels that the Puja of Jamshedpur cannot be recreated elsewhere.
She added that it is that time of year again – the fragrance of shiuli in the air, the swish of tangails on the streets, the colour of joy on the faces. The entire city of Jamshedpur turns into a fairground during the four days of Puja with almost everyone coming out of their houses to attend community functions," she says.
With about 320 puja pandals adoring, the city has turned into an exotic location where radiant faces of the people speak volumes of the importance of the festival. The artistically carved idols of Goddess Durga are also set to attract the devotees a lot.
Meanwhile, respecting the sentiments of devotees, the district administration has allowed the Jamshedpur Durga Puja Committees to distribute Bhog through home delivery.
The administration has said that the committees can home deliver Bhog but only under strict Covid-19 protocols. The move comes following rising demand from several social and religious seeking approvals for distribution of bhog.
DC Suraj Kumar said that the focus of this year’s Durga Puja continues to be on precautionary norms.
He said that the State government has said that no community event or gathering of crowd in or around the pandal should be done for distribution of bhog. The same can be done through home delivery.