As puja gets underway, Sangma visit pandals

Shillong, Oct 21: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma visited some of the puja pandals in the city Sunday night on the start of the three days Durga puja festival.  Psychedelic lights, beats of the dholakas, crowd, cheerful and often excited voices were seen in most of the pandals.

In most of the pandals beats of the traditional drum reverberated as worshippers paid their obeisance to goddess Durga.

Young and old alike were seen in their best dressing attire and as the year passes by pujas in Shillong is getting more glamorous and glamorous.

The perfect start to Durga puja in the state was the all faith prayer meeting and ‘Get together of harmony’ Thursday with Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary calling for strengthening of human values.

Heavy security was seen all around the city to ensure that the three days celebration passes off peacefully.

The crowd was little thin on the first day which is expected to increase by many folds in the coming days.  A police officer said, “We have made arrangements for security at all puja pandals, and volunteers from the various puja committees will also keep vigil.”

On Monday which is the “Ashtami” competition among the drummers would be held at the Jail Road Puja Mandap.   Beside a traditional Khasi drum beating competition would also be held in memory of senior journalist Prasad Gupta, who passed away recently.-By Our Reporter