People thronging puja pandals at Ara

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: With the opening of the ‘patt’ or the eyes of the goddess on October 8, Durga Puja reached its crescendo and all roads lead to Puja pandals at Ara which the men, women and children are thronging with folded hands for a ‘darshan’ of Goddess Durga, the symbol of victory of truth over evil.

All roads have been tastefully decorated with lights. The big size idols and eye catching puja mandaps reflect the range of  artisans. A visit to the various temples in the town suggested that people were thronging them since early Sunday morning and it continued the whole day. Women offered clothes to Goddess Durga. There has been no end to the stream of men, women and children flocking to various puja pandals.

Heavy security arrangements have been made in the town and other parts of Bhojpur district in view of Durga Puja and Muharram. Bhojpur SP, Kshatranil Singh said officials had been were directed to take contingency measures and keep extra vigil on the sensitive areas. He said all security measures had been taken to prevent any untoward incident during the festival. He said additional police pickets have been set up besides round the clock police patrolling in all the important and vulnerable areas have been undertaken. A large number of lady constables too have been deputed for maintaining law and order during the festival.