Shillong: The Central Puja Committee (CPC) in Meghalaya has expressed concern over pollution of the environment and instructed all Puja Committees in Shillong to bring their idols for immersion only to the designated immersion ghat at Polo while Puja offerings and waste materials are to be kept in a designated place at the immersion ghat.
CPC general secretary, J.L. Das said, “all Puja Committees that is Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Biswakarma Puja and all other Puja Committees and private Puja performers of Greater Shillong are requested that after worshiping, they are to bring their idols only to Immersion Ghat, Polo along with Puja offerings/waste materials which are to be kept in a designated place at the Immersion Ghat.”
Das said that the CPC has asked all Community Puja Committees and organizers of private Pujas not to immerse any idols, Puja offerings/waste materials etc on the river.
“And also, no Community Puja committees and individual Puja performers should immerse any idols and Puja waste in any other rivers or streams and even under a tree in and around Shillong but to keep the same in the CPC’s designated Immersion Ghat as has been allotted for the above purposes,” the CPC general secretary said.
The CPC said that it was concerned with the environment and make pollution-free water bodies, particularly Wah Umkhrah, Polo which is the lone designated Immersion Ghat of Shillong, where Immersion of Durga and other idols are done throughout the year.
The CPC had undertaken a cleaning drive at the Immersion Ghat at different stages and the special cleaning drive was organized on October 15 before the upcoming Immersion of Durga.
“Again, on October 25, a special cleaning drive will be organized at the Immersion Ghat, Polo, Shillong to lift the left out structures of Durga idols and any Puja waste, if any,” Das informed.
Moreover, the CPC has constituted a strong committee known as the Immersion Ghat Development Committee headed by Bidhan Kr. Das for the aforesaid purposes. The committee has undertaken works to build a permanent structure at the Immersion Ghat, Polo.
Reiterating that all idols are to be immersed in the CPC’s designated immersion Ghat on the bank of Wah Umkhrah, Polo, Shillong, the CPC requested all Puja Committees including organizers of private Pujas to use only the Polo immersion Ghat for the immersion of any idols after worshiping.
On the immersion day on October 24, the CPC will deploy more than 100 volunteers at the Immersion Ghat at Polo, C.S point, Fourth Furlong junction and different immersion routes of Greater Shillong to assist the district administration for peaceful and incident free immersion of Durga idols.
The district police and district administration are deploying round the clock security in all Durga Puja Pandals of Greater Shillong in particular and in the other districts/Sub-Divisions of Meghalaya in general. Security personnel are also being deployed at all vulnerable points of Greater Shillong and Police City Patrol Van will make frequent patrolling in the city.
As decided during the meeting with the district administration, all Durga Puja pandals will install CCTV cameras and keep fire extinguishers, first-aid box, and garbage throwing bins in their respective Durga Puja pandals.
The fever and frenzy of Durga Puja has gripped Shillong city and the whole state of Meghalaya.
The CPC has informed that this year, there are 243 Community Durga Puja and 11 private Durga Puja in the state of Meghalaya, which include 123 in Khasi Hills districts, 11 in Jaiñtia Hills districts and 116 in Garo Hills districts.
“This year, no Durga Puja Committee will celebrate any Jubilee in Shillong. However, in Garo Hills, Bhaitbari DPC is celebrating Platinum Jubilee and Tura Shiv Mandir DPC will celebrate Silver Jubilee in 2023,” Das informed.
The CPC kickstarted the Durga Puja celebration with the 30th annual get together of harmony (All Faith All Region Prayer) held on October 18. The programme was held at the Puja Pandal of the Meghalaya Hindu Mission Mission Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee, Mawprem, Shillong. Besides, members from various Puja Committees of Shillong, the function was attended by leaders of various faiths, NGOs, Ministers and ormer Minister of Meghalaya, academicians.
