Durga puja festival starts in Assam

Guwahati, Oct 3: The Durga puja celebration started in Assam with Puja revellers thronging more than 1000 puja pandals in the city.

The five day-festival, among the biggest in the North Eastern region, is celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour with the Maha Saptamti day celebrated today.

The day marked the installation of goddess Durga and her four children and blowing of the conch. From Tuesday onwards the Mahahtami day will be celebrated with traditional pomp and fervour.

The city has worn a festive look with elaborate traffic arrangements made to ensure that there is no snarls.

Guwahati city senior superintendent of police Dipak Choudhury told PTI that security has been tightened in and around the city additional pickets has been stationed in vulnerable areas to prevent any untoward incidents.

Among the attraction is Durga idol keeping a watch on poaching in Kaziranga National Park in Beltola pandal and the White House in the Latasil area.

Due to prevailing power crisis, the state government has decided to buy additional power from neighbouring Meghalaya to tide over the situation.

PTI