No festivities in famous Nartiang Temple this Durga Puja Festival courtesy COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 20, 2020

The Durga Puja Festival in the famous Durga Temple located at Nartiang, West Jaintia Hills District is celebrated with all festivities and rituals in the previous years but due to the COVID-19’s pandemic this year there will be no festivities except the actual puja will be conducted.

Along with the rest of the country, the Durga Puja Festival will begin on Thursday and will culminate on Monday.

This was informed by the Dolloi of Elaka Nartiang Hepsing Dhar in meeting convened by Deputy Commissioner West Jaintia Hills District Garod LSN Dykes and attended by SP West Jaintia Hills Bikram D Marak, representatives of Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee of the Shiv Mandir, Jowai and Durga Temple, Nartiang and others on 12th October, last.

During the meeting, Dhar informed that they have already publicized that no gathering will be permitted and the devotees have been requested to cooperate by staying at home.  No persons from other localities or villages will be permitted to attend the Durga Puja in the Durga Temple, he added.

Meanwhile, the representatives of Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee of the Shiv Mandir, Jowai informed that the Durga Puja celebration will be as simple as possible in view of the ongoing COVID-19’s pandemic. The celebration this year will not include any programmes of musical or cultural nature. However music within the temple will be played from time to time during performance of rituals.

This year, the representatives of Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee of the Shiv Mandir, Jowai decided that they will not be having any idol unlike other years and they will replace it with a decked up plantain tree.

Moreover, during the immersion, only ten persons will participate and there will be no foot procession and the Standard Operating Procedures of the Government will be adhered as to prevent any spread of COVID-19.

Joining the celebration of Durga Puja Festival, the District Administration will illuminate the DC’s office Building in Jowai Town while the District police will arrange elaborate security arrangement in both Shiv Mandir and Durga Temple.

As to prevent any crowding in both the Temples, wide publicity will be given to discourage visit of faithful from othe villages/localities to the Puja Pandal.