Shillong/Tura, Oct 5: Durga Puja celebrations culminated in Meghalaya on Wednesday with the immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga in River Umkhrah in Shillong and in other rivers in different parts of the state during the auspicious day of Maha Dashami.
Several cultural programmes were also organised by the respective Durga puja Committees besides the District Administration had also made elaborative security arrangements. Thousands of devotees joined the colourful processions as the idols were carried to River Umkhrah for immersion.
In Khasi Hills, 126 community puja pandals were erected; 11 puja pandals in Jaintia Hills and 120 puja pandals in Garo Hills were erected this year.
The festive spirits of the people brought back the peaceful and harmonious ambience of the city. Throughout the celebration, Shillong’s main hubs had virtually turned into an arena of joy and frolic for the locals and the visitors from outside the State who had poured in scores.
For the locals, it was more of a pandal hopping till late in the night while the tourist used every opportunity to go for a sightseeing tour before venturing into the mood of late night puja celebrations in the hill city.
It was chock-a-block throughout the thoroughfares of the passage to Polo due to restrictions by the traffic police for better traffic management and it generated positive results as far as immersion of idols is concerned.
Durga Puja or Vijayadashmi celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over demon Mahishasura to protect Dharma. On the tenth day, Goddess Durga’s idol is immersed in a river or any flowing water body, signifying her return to Mount Kailash with Lord Shiva. Right before the immersion, Bengali women indulge in Sindoor Khela wherein they apply vermilion (sindoor) on each other and wear red clothing– this signifying Goddess Durga’s victory. On the other hand, the day also signifies the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, after nine days of battle.
On this day, towering effigies of demon King Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghanad (symbols of evil) are burnt down with fireworks thus reminding onlookers that no matter what, good always wins over evil.
