BHUBANESWAR: Communal harmony is the hallmark of the Durga Puja organised by District Centre Owners’ Association at Chandrasekharpur, which was started by a Muslim member in 2008.
Muslim and Christian families have also been taking part in the festival since then. “The Durga Puja in our area began from the house of S K Shahjahan, a member of the puja committee. The priests who come to perform the rituals stay in his house. He also helps other members in organising the puja,” said Saroj Kanta Mallik, secretary of the puja committee.
“The committee is proud of its secular flavour. The water and soil needed for the puja are taken from my house. The mandap is near my home. Whenever I think about the start of the puja, I feel happy,” said Shahjahan. Another major attraction is the Kumari Puja. “On Navami, we will invite 21 young girls and worship them as goddesses,” said Mallik, adding, “The committee will distribute prasad and organise cultural programmes from Saptami to Bijoya Dashami.”
The festival continues for 15 days and ends with Gajalaxmi Puja. After immersion of the Durga idol, the same pandal will be used for three days for Gajalaxmi Puja. The committee has tried to keep the celebration simple. The members said devotional songs and dance programmes will attract pandal-hop – pers and d evo t e e s to the mandap. “Many people also take part in our idol immersion procession,” said Mallik.
Muslim and Christian families have also been taking part in the festival since then. “The Durga Puja in our area began from the house of S K Shahjahan, a member of the puja committee. The priests who come to perform the rituals stay in his house. He also helps other members in organising the puja,” said Saroj Kanta Mallik, secretary of the puja committee.
“The committee is proud of its secular flavour. The water and soil needed for the puja are taken from my house. The mandap is near my home. Whenever I think about the start of the puja, I feel happy,” said Shahjahan. Another major attraction is the Kumari Puja. “On Navami, we will invite 21 young girls and worship them as goddesses,” said Mallik, adding, “The committee will distribute prasad and organise cultural programmes from Saptami to Bijoya Dashami.”
The festival continues for 15 days and ends with Gajalaxmi Puja. After immersion of the Durga idol, the same pandal will be used for three days for Gajalaxmi Puja. The committee has tried to keep the celebration simple. The members said devotional songs and dance programmes will attract pandal-hop – pers and d evo t e e s to the mandap. “Many people also take part in our idol immersion procession,” said Mallik.