New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- Bengal's Puja fervour gathered pace on Saturday as the ritualistic bathing of the nine sacred plants, known as 'Nabapatrika', marked the traditional start of Durga Puja. Favourable weather drew crowds to pandals across the state, while evening showers failed to dampen the spirits of pandal-hoppers.
Durga Puja organisers made a beeline for the banks of the Ganga and other rivers and water bodies for a ritualistic bath of the 'Nabapatrika' draped in a saree. Across Kolkata, pandal-hopping picked up pace from the morning, with favourable weather encouraging more people to step out and visit the city's elaborate puja installations. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari extended greetings to people on the occasion, while the BJP's state president Samik Bhattacharya also visited various puja pandals in the city.
This year, Maha Saptami rituals are spread over two days. With the weekend adding to the festive fervour, crowds are expected to swell at prominent pandals throughout the day, especially in the evening. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening for a two-day visit to the city and adjoining areas, with visits to prominent Durga Puja pandals and Belur Math on his itinerary. The visit comes during Bengal's first Durga Puja celebrations since the BJP came to power in the state.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.