GUWAHATI: After threatening to wash away Saptami on Thursday, October 10, the morning rain subsided quickly enough for devotees and revelers to come out attired in their best for the Durga Puja pandals.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast continuous rainfall over the week in most of the regions of Northeast India. After the initial burst on Thursday, the rain took a sabbatical, allowing organisers and attendees much-needed relief to continue with the Durga Puja festivities.
Majority of the pandals have focused on promoting environmental sustainability and eco-friendly practices this year. Some of the puja committees have also retained the tradition of establishing pandals of the highest grandeur, continuing an ongoing trend from yesteryears.
For instance, a 65-foot statue of Lord Krishna was installed by the Sarbojanin Shree Shree Durga Puja Committee in Pandu New Colony, a Harry Potter-themed pandal was unveiled by the Natunbasti Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee in Arya Nagar, and Mahabharata’s Indraprastha was brought to life by the Athgaon Sarvajanik Durga Puja Samity.
Saptami was also the day when the mouth-watering khichdi was in high demand as bhog was distributed to devotees during the day.
The evening hours saw the dazzle of multi-hued lights cast a magic spell, adding to the revelry of the occassion, as overall footfall in pandals increased exponentially.
People in Guwahati appeared to flock the pandals with a vengeance this year, knowing they have been robbed a day of the celebrations, since Ashtami and Navami fall together on Friday followed by Dashami on Saturday, marking the early end of Durga Puja for 2024.