Shillong ( Meghalaya ), Sept 22 :The forthcoming Durga Puja Festival will be celebrated from 02.10.2022 to 05..10.2022 as per almanac schedule:
This year i.e. in 2022, , there will be 257 Community Durga Puja and five private Durga Puja in the state of Meghalaya: as below :
1. Khasi Hills Districts- 126
2. Jainta Hills “ 11
3. Garo Hills “ 120
a) Numbers of Community Durga Puja at Shillong- 64
b) Private Durga Puja -5
Since there is a relaxation of COVID-19 protocols in force and CORONA infection is in declining in the state of Meghalaya alsong with the rest of the country, therefore, all Durga Puja Committee making preparation to celebrate the incoming Durga Puja Festival with Pomp & Gaiety.
Following Community Durga Puja Committees of Greater Shillong shall celebrate their Quasqicentennial ,Centenary, Platinum Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee & Golden Jubilee year of Durga Puja Celebration in 2022:-
1.Sonathan Dharmasabha ( Harisabha) DPC, Laban :Quasqicentennial ( 125th years +)
2.Assomiya Naamghar ( Ruprekha) DPC, Lower Jail Road : Centenary ( 100 years )
3 Laban Naamghar DPC, Laban : Centenary ( 100 years )
4. Kench’s Trace DPC , Kenches’ Trace : Platinum Jubilee ( 75th years )
5. A.C.Lane DPC , Police Bazar : Platinum Jubilee ( 75th years)
6. Shree Shree Rajasthan DPC,Lukier Road :Diamond Jubilee(60 years+)
7. Oakland-Biver Road DPC: Oakland : Golden Jubilee ( 50 years )
8. Laban Shiv Mandir DPC: Laban : Golden Jubilee (50 years )
And in Garo Hills, following Durga Puja Committees will celebrate their Jubilees in 2922-
1. Thakubari Durga Puja Committee – Tura- : Platinum Jubilee ( 75th Year )
2. Babupara Sarbajanin Dugaustsav Committee –Mohendragang : Platinum Jubilee( 75th year)
3. Chandabhoi Durga Puja Committee: Dalu .: – Golden Jubilee ( 5o years).
This year Durga Puja coupled with Kali Puja/Diwali and Chatt Puja Festival in Meghalaya will be celebrated with Pomp & Gaiety since previous 2 years i.e. 2020 & 2021 no festival was celebrated properly in Meghalaya along with rest of the country due to strict COVID-19 protocol.
CPC will organize its one of the much acclaimed event i.e. CPC’s 28th ALL FAITH-ALL RELIGION “ Get-Together of Harmony “on 28th September,2022 at 3.30 p.m. at Kench’s Trace Puja Pandal. On the occasion of Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Durga Puja Festival, Kench’s Trace Puja Committee will host the CPC’s 28th “ Get-together of Harmony “ . Conrad Sangma Chief Minister of Meghalaya will attend the function as Chief Guest and other dignitaries, leaders of SAFF, all Faith& Religion,Politicians, Trade Unions , prominent NGOs, Academician will attend the function as a Special Guest and Invite.
CPC.Meghalaya is very concerned with the environment and pollution free water bodies, particularly Wah Umkhrah. The lone Immersion Ghat of Shillong is located at the Bank of river Wah Umkhrah, Polo, Shillong where Immersion of Durga & other Idols are done throughout the year. CPC used to undertake Cleaning Drive at Immersion Ghat at different stage, Special Cleaning Drivewill be organized on 24th September, 2022 before the upcoming Immersion of Durga idols .
Idols on 05.10.2022 and immediately after Immersion, in the next day itself i.e. on 6thOctober, 2022, CPC will engage JCB, Volunteers and paid laborers to clean the Ghat and lift all wooden structures and waste materials from river. CPC has constituted a strong its Immersion Ghat Infrastructure Development Committee headed by Bidhan Kr. Das for aforesaid purposes.
At the initiative of the CPC’s Immersion Ghat Infrastructure Development Committee a multi-storied building at Immesion Ghat with the generous donation from affiliated DPC/KPC, CPC members & Well wisher.
The estimated cost of the project shall be around 1,35,00,000 (one Croe thirthy five lacks) and above . The designated Committee has decided to start the construction works immediately after Chatt Puja Festival and the proposed building will be completed in a phase manner,
All Idols including Durga are to be immersed in the designated immersion Ghat located at the bank of river Wah Umkhrah, Polo ,Shillong. All Puja Committees i.e. Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Biswakarma Puja and all other Puja Committeesof Greater Shillong and private Puja performers of Greater Shillong are requested after worshiping , they will bring their Idols at Immersion Ghat, Polo along with waste Puja material. All Community Puja Committees and organizers of Private Poojas are requestednot to immerse any Puja waste materials on the river. And no Community Puja committee and individual Puja performers is supposed to immerse any Idols and Puja Waste in anyother rive, stream. water bodies in and around Shillong since a designated Immersion Spot is allotted by the Govt for the above purpose.
Therefore, all the Puja Committees including organizers of Private Pujas are once again ,requested to use the Polo immersion Ghat only for immersion the immersion of any Idols after worshiping .
CPC’s Dr. Subrata Das & Shiv Kumar memorial Drum-Beat Competitions CPC’s one of the popular competitions Drum-beat Competitions will be held on 3rd October,2022 ( Maha Astomi day) at 10 a.m. onwards at Puja Pandal of Rilbong Durga Puja Committee, Rilbong, .The competitions will be held in Group & Individual category and the winning Drum-Beaters (Individual & Group) will be awarded Cash Prizes along with Medals. Two running Trophy will be awarded to the winning (group) & runner- up Durga Puja Pandal . Late Shiv Kumar Memorial Running Trophy will be awarded to winning Puja Committee ( Group ) donated by Shri Ajay Agarwal & his family and Late Dr. Subrta Das memorial running Trophy will be awarded to winning ( Individual) Durga Puja Committee and Trophy will be donated by the family members of late Dr.Subrata Das.
A series of routine joint Meeting between CPC/Puja Committee and District Civil & Police Administration are already being held where points/issues relate to peaceful celebration of incoming Durga Puja Festival were discussed and permission to all Durga Puja Committees were granted as per guidelines, terms & conditions laid downed in the permission order.
The District Police Administration shall deploy round the clock Security to all Durga Puja Pandals of Greater Shillong in particular and in the other District/Sub-Division of Meghalaya in general during ensuing Durga Puja days. The Security personnel will also be deployed at all vulnerable points of Greater Shillong; Police City Patrol Van will make frequent patrolling in the City.
And in addition, all Durga Puja Committees of Greater Shillong will raise their own Volunteer group with an Identification mark (I.D.Card etc) to assist the Traffic Police to regulate the Traffic flow and crowed in and around the Puja Pandal.
To facilitate the Puja visitors, CPC has requested the SPTS through DC,EKHD for plying of buses in Shillong up to 11 p.m. on 2 nd to 4th October, 2022 in some selected routes of Greater Shillong.
CPC will request the Secretary MUDA through S.P. ,EKHD to keep open its all Parking Lots namely Police Bazar, Polo, Luckier Road etc. till midnight during upcoming Durga Puja days i.e. from 02.10.2022 to 04.10.2022to facilitate the Puja visitors.
As approached by the CPC, the District Administration requested PWD to repair all damaged Roads before the ensuing Durga Puja Festival and MeECL/Shillong Municipal authorities also requested to make all non-functional. Non-working Street Lights of Shillong functional not only during the ensuing Durga Puja Festival but after the Festival also.
As decided in the meetings held with the District Administration, all Durga Puja Pandals will install CCTV Cameras and keep Fire Extinguishers, First-Aid Box, and Garbage throwing Bins etc. in their respective Durga Puja Pandals.
CPC’s Vigilance Sub-committee will play a vital role in this regard. CPC’s Vigilance Sub-committee shall train and sensitize Volunteers of different Durga Puja Pandals of Greater Shillong by organizing sector wise Volunteers Meeting in collaboration with Shillong City Police.
On ensuing Immersion day i.e. on 05.10.2022, CPC will deploy more than 100 Volunteers at Immersion Ghat, Polo and on different Immersion routes of Greater Shillong to assist the District Administration for Peaceful & incident free Immersion of Durga Idols.
It was also decided in the DC/SP meeting held recently at Shillong in connection with Peaceful & Incident Free immersion on 05.10.2022 not to allow any Senior Citizens and Children below 12 years to enter into Immesion Ghat, Polo along with their Durga Puja Committee.
CPC’s “ SARAD SANMAN “ AWARD : CPC’s Annual “ SARAD SANMAN AWARD 2020 & 2021” will be awarded to 4 prominent personalities and two NGOs on Shillong on 28th September,2022 in its Get-together Function.
On the occasion Diamond Jubilee year of Durga Puja Celebration , Shree Shree Rajasthani Durga Puja Committtee in collaboration with CPC, Meghalaya will celebrate “AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV /50 Years of Statehood Meghalaya coupled with Inauguration of Diamond JubileeCelebration at Shree Shree Rajasthani Durga Puja Pandel , Lukier Road, Shillong on 30th September,2022 at 4.p.m. onwards .
Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya will Grace the occasions as Chief Guest and other dignitaries as a Special Guest/Invitees.
It may be mentioned here that other Durga Puja Committees of Meghalaya viz. Harisabha, Laban Naamghar, Assomiya Naamghar, Ruprekha) , Kench’s Trace , Laban Shiv Mandir ,Oakland Biver (Road DPC have already started celebration of their Centenary & Jubilee by organizing various events at their respective Puja Pandel since August,2022.
The Central Puja Committee (CPC), Meghalaya is a representative Body of Hindu Religious Group residing in the state of Meghalaya and also a Co-ordinating Body of all Puja Committees, Hindu Institutions, Mandir Committees Festival Committees etc. CPC, Meghalaya having its Units in Garo Hills, Ri-Bhoi District, Bholaganj, Balat, Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and other stations of Meghalaya to look after the day-to-day affairs of CPC, Meghalaya.
Durga Puja being one of the major festivals (Dussera ) of Hindus, CPC is responsible in coordinating the activities and smooth conduct of Puja throughout the state of Meghalaya in general and Greater Shillong in particular. CPC is the organization is the principal channel of communication between the State/District Administration and the individual Puja Committees,facilitating smooth conduct of different rituals and other related functions associated with Durga Puja and other Pujas/Festivals like, Kali Puja/Diwali, Chhat Puja, Holi etc. Which follow within next few months.
