For Mehsana Bengalis, it is home away from home

Palanpur, Oct 19 (UNI) Mehsana is the only place in North Gujarat, where migrant Bengali families living in Banaskantha, Patan and Sabarkantha districts come here to celebrate 'Durga puja' and share the cultural legacy of their far flung province.

Bengal Cultural Association, Mehsana, which is working for the cause has been celebrating its 30th Durga puja this year. As many as 200 families drawn from the surrounding places have come to the vast campus of the ONGC, where a decorated pandal has been installed.

The Executive Director-Asset Manager of ONGC, Mehsana A K Gupta attended the Durgotsav, which began yesterday and offered puja.

The event will last until Sunday, which is Dussera concluding with the immersion of the idol of Goddess Durga at Deria Talav in Visanagar, 30 km from Mehsana.

B B Dutta, Cultural Secretary, Bengal Cultural Association Mehsana, said Durga puja is completing its 30 years' journey here this year. Besides Mehsana, devotees from different parts of the surrounding districts have assembled here for seeking blessings of the Goddess, who dispels evil and spreads truth and goodwill, Dutta said.

UNI