Jamshedpur: Traditional Durga Puja drummers have begun tightening the leather and cords of their dhaks. The Kash flower stalks are gradually cropping up amidst the green of paddy fields. Seuli buds have started appearing. The excitement of Durgotsav times has been more than faintly stirred with the Divine Mother’s visit just a month away. Lakhan, the sarees’ stockist, has already started the rounds of Kolkata to replenish his ample showcase with materials for didis, boudis and mashimas. The Puja mood is gradually falling into place.
Besides busy kitchens and favourite puja special cuisines, the four exciting days remain incomplete sans pandal hopping. This year, however, from the look of things, visiting Durga Puja pandals might not be as alluring as of earlier times. Extended monsoon, heavy rainfall, pock-marked roads, mid-street accumulated water pools and the stench of collected garbage may prove to be dampeners amidst the Durgotsav joys. Several Puja committees have urged the municipal Corporations and Municipalities to ameliorate the killjoys and talks have been planned with the district administration to ensure that people are not deprived of their much awaited annual thrill.
Dulal Bhuiyan, the chief patron of Bhuinyadih Sarvjanik Durga Puja Committee, said, “I am into talks with several other Durga Puja committees. The condition of roads is pathetic. Street lights need to be repaired or replaced. We shall take up these issues with the Deputy Commissioner so that Puja can be celebrated in a hassle-free manner.”
The Baridih Durga Puja Samiti organizes Durgotsav at the Baridih Bazaar Maidan. Puja fairs too are organized here that attract large crowds. Those coming from the Vijaya Garden area and the Ramni Kali Mandir are bound to encounter difficulties due to the dilapidated and water-logged roads.
The Bhuinyadih Durgotsav is being celebrated since 1949. Chief Patron and President of the Committee, Dulal Bhuiyan stated, “People come from far and near to see our puja and enjoy the fair. But the road conditions from Mango Bus Stand to Bhuinyadih are very bad. The streets are dotted with potholes and the plight of the road near the New Court is equally bone-rattling. The Bhuinyadih Chowk is riddled with filth and garbage. These will add to the inconvenience of pandal visitors. I shall be meeting the Deputy Commissioner on the 28th of August and take up these issues along with the traffic bottlenecks with him to find a way out of these problems.”
Durga Puja is being organized at Sarjamda since 1989 and this will be the 38th year of its festivities. President AK Mishra stated that a big hole has appeared at the pandal site due to incessant rains. “The hole is waterlogged. Devotees will face tremendous problems. The streets are broken and most of the drains are jammed.”
The Golmuri Circus Maidan Durga Puja committee too is worried. The condition of the ground is bad due to the monsoon. The ground has become uneven and holes have appeared. Water has accumulated in several spots leading to piling of garbage that is spreading foul odour. The Durga Puja Central Committee has already been notified about the conditions.
In Adityapur, the road conditions are pathetic. The roads leading to one of the most attractive Puja Pandals, Praveen Singh Seva Sansthan at M Type are dilapidated. Large holes have appeared due to the rains. These may prove to be dangerous and prone to accidents. To add to the bane, accumulation of garbage at various spots is emanating stench. Under such conditions, devotees and pandal hoppers will find it difficult to make their way to the pandal. Elderly people and children will find it extremely difficult. With more rain anticipated, waterlogging in the holes may further worsen the situation.
Other Puja pandals are faced with similar issues. Bad and dilapidated roads, waterlogging and piles of garbage, insufficient lighting arrangements and traffic snarls, may challenge the Durgotsav spirit if the various puja committees, municipalities and municipal corporations do not wake up in time and mend the current state of affairs and rekindle the joyous mood.
