Guwahati: 60-ft Ram idol main attraction of Durga Puja pandal in Pandu

Festive fervours run high in Guwahati, as a 60-feet-tall statue of Lord Ram and a unique pandal theme is attracting people in large numbers to the Pandu area here.

The Jai Hind Club Durga Puja celebration committee of the Pandu area has built a 60-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram for this year’s Durga Puja.

Parimal Dey, a member of the puja celebration committee, told media that they planned for this theme four months ago and built a 60-foot-tall statue of Lord Ram.

“Every year we have a new theme for Durga Puja, and this year we planned to build a big statue of Lord Ram for our puja pandal. We hope that this will attract people, devotees,” Parimal Dey said.

The Hindu festival of Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is a yearly celebration that honours the Hindu goddess Durga and commemorates her victory over Mahishasur.
Hindu mythology holds that the goddess comes to her earthly abode at this time to bless her devotees. The significance of Durga Puja goes beyond religion and is revered as the celebration of compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art, and culture.

From the reverberation of ‘dhaak’ and new clothes to delicious food, there remains a merry mood during these days. In other parts of the country, during the nine-day Navratri festival, devotees worship Maa Durga’s nine incarnations in order to obtain her blessings. There is a goddess manifestation linked with each day of Navratri.

During these nine days, people observe ritualistic fasts, recite shlokas dedicated to each goddess, wear new clothing, offer bhog, and clean their homes. In their prayers, they ask the goddess for her favour in order to have prosperous, joyous, and fulfilled lives.