Kohima, October 7 (MExN): The five-day long Durga Puja, being celebrated by the Hindu community of Nagaland, begins tonight (October 7) throughout the state. The Puja celebration will begin with Sasthi Puja this evening, followed by Mahasaptami tomorrow, Mahaashtami on Sunday, Mahanavami on Monday, and the Bijaya Dashami on Tuesday, when the celebration will culminate. The President of the Durgabari of Kohima, Subhash Bhattacharjee and General Secretary, N.C. Tiwari, in a release, have invited all well wishers to come to visit the Durgabari and informed that there will be cultural programme for all communities in the Puja pandals. The release also informed that the Kohima Durgabari Cultural Welfare Unit has also been formed under the initiative of Sudipta Kumar Dey. It has regularly organized programmes providing knowledge on physical, ideological and emotional health care, including the herbal health care through medicinal plants, by purging food, water air, for the better health of all. Official sources said that there are over 14 Durga Puja pandals in and around Kohima this year, where Durga Puja will be performed till Tuesday. Durga Puja, Dussehra in Kohima Kohima, October 7 (MExN): The Hindu community in Kohima will celebrate Durga Puja and also Dussehra at the Assam Rifles ground. The Durga Puja celebration will be as per the auspicious schedule given by the committees, stated a press release from Dussehra Organizing Committee, Kohima. The Dussehra festival to be celebrated alongside will involve burning of effigy of Ravana at 6:00 pm, it added. All Kohima residents have been invited to participate in the celebrations. Durga Puja greetings Dimapur, October 7 (MExN): PB Acharya, Governor of Nagaland, and his wife Kavita Acharya have extended warm greetings to the people of Nagaland and the country on the occasion of Durga Puja and Dussehra. A press release from PRO, Raj Bhavan, Kohima stated that Durga Puja, the ceremonial worship of the mother goddess (Durga), is one of the most important festivals of India. Apart from being a religious festival for the Hindus, it is also an occasion for reunion and rejuvenation, and a celebration of traditional culture and customs, it said. Meanwhile, Dussehra celebrates the Hindu god Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. “The complete image of goddess Durga represents destruction of evil and protection of good and reflects the point that in order to become divine, one should keep one’s animal instincts under control. As the message of the festival signifies, let us all be in reverence and gratitude towards everything that matters in our lives which will lead us to success and victory,” Acharya said. “Let the festivals of Durga Puja and Dussehra be celebrated in the true spirit of peace, joy and brotherhood,” the Governor wished. Dimapur Bangali Samaj In a separate press note, Dimapur Bangali Samaj (DBS) wished all the devotees and believers a very happy Durga Puja and a festive Dussehra. “May goddess Maa Durga shower upon all her immense blessings and bring about peace prosperity and happiness in the lives of one and all,” wished DBS President, Kamla Kanta Paul. “May this triumph of good over the evil influences our lives and may we leave in harmony and peace through her blessings.” Dimapur District Citizens Forum The Dimapur District Citizens Forum has wished a happy and joyous Durga Puja to the Hindu community of Dimapur. N. Joseph Lemtur, President, DDCF hoped that since Durga Puja symbolizes the victory of good over evil, this puja will make a new era of peace, unity and communal harmony. The Forum also extended any support to the Hindu community for the successful conduct of puja all over Dimapur. Muslim Council Dimapur The Muslim Council Dimapur also extended Durga Puja greetings to all the Hindu “brothers and sisters” of Nagaland. Working President of MCD, Ahidur Rahman, on behalf of the community, hoped that this puja of Goddess Durga would bring about a new era of peace, prosperity and brotherhood among different sections of the society. “Also may the good prevail over the evil with the celebration of this puja,” he added. The MCD also wished all the different Durga Puja organizing committees of Dimapur a successful completion of the holy puja.
