Preparations begin for Durga Puja celebrations in Patna

PATNA: Several puja committees in the city are busy finalising the theme of their pandals with artistes and idols of goddess Durga among other major attractions to celebrate the Durga Puja.
The festival will begin from October 7 with ‘kalash sthapna’. It will conclude on October 15 with ‘Ravan vadh’ ritual. The district administration has issued Covid-19 guidelines to be followed by the organisers during the pandemic.
Patna DM Chandrashekhar Singh said the puja committees have been asked to avoid large gatherings in the pandals and follow Covid-19 protocols such as use of face masks and hand sanitisers.“Important events like Ramleela, Ravan vadh and Bharat milap, would be held this year on October 14, 15 and 16 respectively with precautions at Kalidas Rangalaya,” he said.
“The SDOs and SDPOs will give permission to the organisers and committees to set up the pandals,” he added.
Kamal Nopany, chairperson of Dussehra Committee Trust, Patna, told this newspaper on Tuesday that the effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, Meghnad and Coronavirus will be made this year for Vijayadashmi. “We have decided to make small effigies as the celebration will be held at Kalidas Rangalaya instead of Gandhi Maidan. The Ravan effigy will be 15 feet high while that of Kumbhkaran will be 13 feet, Meghnad 11 feet and Coronavirus 10 feet high. Only 100 persons will be allowed to see Ravan vadh, but arrangements for its live broadcast will also be made,” he said.
“On October 14, Ramleela will be played. All the artists will be from Bihar. Bharat milap act will be held on October 16 and only 400 people with passes or cards will be allowed. The preparations for the three events have already started,” Nopany said.
Sukhdev Pandey, member of Navyuvak Sangh Shri Durga Puja Samiti, Dak Bunglow, said they will finalise the pandal theme in the next few days. “We will ensure that all the members, artisans, priests and drummers are vaccinated. Besides, Covid-19 precautionary measures will be taken as per the guidelines,” he said.
Santosh Kumar, convener of Shri Vijay Vahini Durga Puja Samiti, Anandpuri, said arrangements will be made according to the Covid-19 protocol.