Games, poems, 3-D to attract little revellers

Curtains drawn over Dasara

 
“Mahanavami”, or the ninth lunar day, is the concluding day of Durga puja rituals. The main “Mahanavami” puja began after the end of “Sandhi Puja” held at the confluence of “Mahashtami” (eighth lunar day) and “Mahanavami”.

“Sandhi Puja” marks the inter-linking of “Mahashtami” (the third day of puja) and “Mahanavami” (the fourth day of puja). During this ritual Durga is worshiped as Chamunda (the destroyer). It is in this avatar that Durga is believed to have killed demon Mahishahsura. The ritual is performed for 48 minutes comprising 24 minutes each of “Mahashtami” and of “Mahanavami” with 108 lotus flowers.

As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga killed Chando and Mundo, two asuras (demons) at the confluence (Sandhi) of “Mahashtami and Mahanavami”.

People took part in community feasts and poured out in thousands on the streets visiting the pandals as exquisite artistry on lightings, pomp and gaiety marked Mahanavami.
The lights have specially been put up to amuse and captivate children.

“Basically we want the children of the city and outskirts to enjoy the puja. I hope children are the main visitors who enjoy watching this kind of lightings. So we have depicted ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars’ etc. in the lightings,” said Abhijit Mujmudar, secretary Singhi Park Sarbojonin Surgotsav.

“I hope when they find the imaginary characters moving around in front of them, they will really enjoy the theme and the puja,” Mujumdar added.

These makeshift temples that have been put up during the festival in different parts of the city attract attention for their unique workmanship, designs and themes. There is always an explicit competition among the organising committees to come up with best and different pandals.

With the festival giving people an opportunity to let their hair down, many also visited friends and relatives and indulged in light-hearted chat, before partaking “bhog” (community feasts of food offered to the goddess first), which comprised a wide range.