Jamshedpur : Amid festive�mood, dressed in their�best,�people of the city today�thronged at puja pandals�to�make offering to the deities.
people in large numbers�visited�the colourfully decorated�pandals in the evening�and�were overjoyed as cultural�programmes began at all�prominent�pandals.
With about 290 puja�pandals adoring, the city has�turned into an exotic location�where radiant faces of the�people speak volumes of the�importance of the festival.
The artistically carved idols�of Goddess Durga are also�attracting the devotees a lot.
The entire city is bubbling�with joy and enthusiasm;�be it a child or an adult�everyone�has zeroed on his/her�plans to make celebrations all the more special.
But amidst all the celebrations, the true colour of the�festival lies in the worship of�Goddess Durga and the various�rituals associated with�it.
The fervour of Durga Puja the�biggest festival -started�on�amid beating of ‘dhak’ (local
drums), pandalhopping�and�cultural functions at various�marquees.
On the other hand the�Ram Mandir Ravan Dahan�Samity in Sonari is gearing�up for the age old rituals of�Ravaan Dahan. This year the�Ravan will be 50 ft high and�viewers will enjoy the legend�of good winning over evil�once again.
The tradition of�the dahan, held on the Ram�Mandir grounds, first began�in 1958. The total budget for�this year is Rs 1.25 lakh. The�firecrackers for the one-hour�show have been procured at�a cost of Rs 40,000.
Like everyyear, the Samity expects�a�crowd of about 50, 000.
The�Samity�has made it a point�not�to disatisfy the people.�Apart from carrying the�tradition forward and entertaining�the people, the Samity�also�takes care of the safety�of�people.
The firecrackers�are�always fixed on a certain�height�in order to avoid�accidents.Meanwhile�various�puja committees are taking innovative steps to attract�devotees.
From skits to musical�show a lot of ideas are�being�used this year.
The�Circuit�House Area�puja committee,�which is one of the oldest�pandals in the city,is�known�for organising cultural�events.