Ponds for idol immersion still to take shape
There will be no big pandals this year and huge idols will be replaced by smaller idols of the Goddess
Preparations for celebrating Durga Puja according to the state government and district administration guidelines are underway, but the work of building temporary ponds for immersion of idols has not yet begun.
Big pandals will not be seen this year and huge idols would be replaced by smaller idols of the Goddess. Moreover, the collective idols of five deities that are worshipped traditionally at the puja pandal, will also be absent.
“Dussehra is just two weeks away but the work of building temporary ponds for immersion has not started yet,” said Bengali Welfare Association general secretary PK Roy.
“The district administration is taking things lightly and there is no initiative from any corner to see to it that the religious sentiments of the Bengali community are respected and puja, which is beginning from October 22, is concluded keeping a balance between the norms and religious sentiments,” Roy said.
Authorities of the flood control department, which constructs the pond for immersion
An artist making Goddess Durga idol for Durga puja festival at Tal Katora area in Lucknow.
near Ganga at Sangam, are clueless.
Officials claim that the department has raised the matter with the district administration on a number of occasions but no guidelines or instructions have
been given.
“How will the pond be constructed in such a short time as even after getting an approval of the administration, the construction of the pond needs at least 10 days and before that the process of issuing a tender too has to be done,” said irrigation department executive engineer (flood control) Brijesh Kumar.
Given the short span of time, with the immersion slated for October 26, the work for making the makeshift pond on the banks of Sangam will be a herculean task for the irrigation department.
Officials concede that the irrigation department needs at least 20 days to make a pond. Besides a jetty with tank, ghat too, needs to be prepared along with cordoning off the area.
After receiving the budget, the irrigation department will invite tenders to construct the pond, they said.