Durga Puja festive fervour returns to Nagaland; Chief Minister extends greetings

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 3 (EMN): After being forced to either cancel or maintain restraint while celebrating festivals during the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bengali community in Nagaland is observing Durga Puja with much fervour this year.

Dimapur markets have come alive with people shopping for the five-day Durga Puja celebration, which began on October 1, while the devotees and public swarm the beautifully decorated pandals (marquee) erected in almost all localities of the city.

As many as 41 pandals have been erected in Dimapur district area on the occasion of Durga Puja which is being celebrated after a gap two years, Dimapur Bengali Students Union general secretary Rajat Ghosh told Eastern Mirror. ‘The celebration this year is different both in spirit and in mood,’ he said.

Every committee in the city tries to stand out in building pandals through unique designs and creativity with certain theme and eco-friendly materials, attracting the devotees and the general public alike.

The Durga Puja committee in Chümoukedima is celebrating its 25th year by constructing a pandal, which is a replica of a tabla (percussion instrument), Ghosh said.

The Durga Puja celebration ends with Dashami which falls on Wednesday, October 5, this year. The devotees immerse the Durga idol on the last day of the festival.

Greetings from Nagaland Chief Minister

Meanwhile, the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, has greeted the people on the occasion of Durga Puja.

“Dussehra, Durga Puja greetings to all who are celebrating. May the festival of good over evil be filled with happiness and love and bring blessed beginnings in everyone’s lives,” he tweeted.