Flood cast shadow on Durga puja celebration in Bihar

Patna, Oct 6: Durga puja is being celebrated with traditional fervour, enthusiasm and devotion across the state despite floods in north Bihar.

It appears that various organisers in the state capital here have tried to show the solidarity of the devotees and puja revellers with the people still reeling under the devastating effect of floods, by depicting their suffering and agonies in cartoons and other graphics displayed at puja pandals.

In one such pandal at Govind Mitra road, the scene of breach in Kosi embankment and subsequent inundation of the vast chunk of areas in north Bihar was displayed through electric graphics. The IAF choppers dropping food packets and armymen engaged in rescue operation, displayed with rare acumen and technical skills creating real like situation, was also the cynosure of the puja revellers and devotees cutting across the age barriers.

The creative glare of the artists seems to have not missed the Amarnath shrine controversy which recently made news headlines.

In a pandal in East Lohanipur locality, Amarnath cave was erected which could be covered in about 220 foot-steps and after completion of this journey, you would have glimpses of the five-feet high Shivlinga made from ice. Special care has been taken to ensure the ice does not melt and devotees would have the feeling that they were visiting the Amarnath cave to offer.

Similarly, if you have to see the glimpses of some of the famous temples of the country, you are not required to travel length and breath of the nation. Near Dakbunglow crossing, replica of Meenaxi temple of Madurai had been created in a Puja pundal which was the result of untiring efforts of the skilled persons.Chairman of the organising committee Sanjeev Prasad Toni said through various graphics and attractive cartoons, burning problems of the country would be presented.

Replicas of Mahakaleshwar temple, Birla Mandir of Jodhpur, Panchnag Temple of Tripura, Anandmath of Pondichery are some of the other attractions in Puja pandals in Patna and other parts of the state.

Music soirees,which earlier used to be integral part of Durga puja celebrations, were missing this year as organisers preferred to cancel it in the wake of devastating floods in north Bihar.

The state government has issued instructions to all district police superintendents to ensure foolproof security cover to the devotees and puja revellers during the festival.Apart from jawans of Bihar police, Special Auxiliary Police(SAP) has also been deputed to ensure security during the festivities.

UNI