DUSSEHARA CELEBRATED WITH RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM

Ara (RNI) Dussehara was celebrated with great religious fervour and pomp amidst tight security arrangements in Bhojpur district.  Tastefully decorated and massive pandals with series bulbs, festoons and coloured tubes, resembling magnificent temples and palatial structures, beautiful statues of Goddess Durga and her progenies, symbol of victory of truth over evil, chanting of Vedic mantras high-powered illumination marked the celebration. Ara was virtually turned into a fairyland. Add to all these, the mad rush of devotees to the pandals added to the glamour. Villagers were pouring in in large numbers to have a glance of the idols. Women with heavy facial make-up and babes in their laps particularly from rural areas, men and children flocked various puja sites to have a look of Goddess Durga and offered prayers. With all roads leading to puja pandalas, Durga puja celebration has reached its crescendo on Nawami and Dashami. This also marked the end of Puja celebration.

As soon as the sun began to set, an endless sea of humanity was out on the roads for the darshan of Mother Goddess. The pandals erected on either side of roads, as usual, were impressive for their artistic touch and colourful lights. The greatest crowd pullers were the pandals where they saw Ma Durga in action killing Mahishssur and getting supernatural power from different gods through light and sound effects at Mirganj, Ramgarhia, Nala road and Shivganj..

Roadsides eateries did rousing business this year as hundreds of people were seen flocked there with watering lips to have taste of ‘golgappa’, samosa, Chinese dishes, jalebi particularly gudaha jalabi and other delicious foods from evening to midnight and enjoyed puja celebration. .

Heavy security arrangements have been made in the town and other parts of Bhojpur district keeping in view of Durga Puja. But on the other hand, the district administration failed to provide any facility to the citizens. As against the claims of the authorities, filth and garbage were dumped in every lane and bylane and drain water was littering on roads and temporary primary health centres were set up only on papers. The ruffians were also on the prowl and the young girls and women had to face a lot of hardship due to them though police caned some eve-teasers and miscreants at Ramana Maidan on Monday night when they cut jeans and tops of some girls with blades and also tried to kidnap three girls. When a ruffian molested a young girl at taking advantage of rush, the girls slapped him on her face several times in full public view and other people also supported her.

Despite the instruction of Bhojpur district administration, the recalcitrant puja organizers played Disc  Jockey (DJ) with maddening and deafening sound at almost all the Puja Pandals even after 10pm and the District administration was seen on back foot. Though the district administration made elaborate security arrangements for peaceful Durga Puja and also to maintain law and order, several magistrates and police officials were seen absent from their place of duty and the law and order maintenance was entirely on police constables and Home Guard personnel.

Meanwhile, Bhojpur Police issued guidelines for the immersion of idols of Maa Durga on October 25, 2023. Bhojpur SP Pramod Kumar Yadav requested all the presidents of Puja Committees to abide by the guidelines issued by the Bhojpur police for the immersion of idols of Maa Durga on October 25, 2023. He said that playing of Disk Jockey (DJ) during immersion procession is completely banned so that people can hear the announcement by the district administration clearly and immersion can be performed peacefully. Legal action will be taken against playing of vulgar songs and announcement of caste based or provocative speech, playing of only devotional songs are allowed. Elderly persons and children should be kept aloof from the immersion procession. The immersion should be completed in between 10am to 5pm. It is also directed to ensure presence of magistrates and police force with the immersion procession. If idols and pandals are installed at remote areas without informing the district administration, the Puja Committees at once informed their nearest police station even today. The Puja Committee volunteers are directed to establish coordination with the police in managing immersion procession. It is also directed to follow the direction of the Bhojpur district administration strictly and go to immersion one by one so that any untoward incident could be avoided. Exhibition of arms during immersion procession strictly prohibited. The SP requested the resident of the district to be alert during immersion and Ravan Badh and the announcers should continuously alert people at dangerous ghats.