Jharkhand Comes Alive

Durga Puja is also known as Durgotsav during which Goddess Durga is worshipped. It is a five-day celebration that begins with Shashthi followed by Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, and Vijayadashami. Right from the start of Mahalaya, the fragrance of the dhoop envelops the surroundings leaving it to smell like a sacred temple.  

The sound of the dhak mixed with the intense aroma of the dhunuchi fills the streets of Jharkhand with festive spirit. The aroma is believed to have a purifying effect. Women are seen dressed in beautiful sarees, heavy jewels and the thickest of bangles with sindoor and bindis on their foreheads. After all, Durga Puja is the day of the Devi.  

The pandals are each decorated in a different theme, be it the legends of Goddess Durga or scenes from Hindu epic texts. Recently, some pandals have been themed on a social cause to spread awareness. Daytime is usually better to see the pandals closely when the crowd is less however, these brightly lit pandals in hundreds of colours are quite a sight on their own in the evenings.  

The root of creation, preservation, and destruction is believed to be Goddess Durga. She is believed to be the universe's defender and is a pure manifestation of the power "Shakti."  

Goddess Durga is revered in many different forms all over the nation and is a significant and essential component of the Hindu religion. She is recognised as the supreme soul and is prayed to in order to attain strength and fulfilment of one's wishes. From the north of India to the southern states, her aura is extended in an incomprehensible manner.  

Across Jharkhand, several temples of the Goddess can be seen. These temples are either in the form of Shakti Peeths or have an important legend. Jharkhand is blessed with the temples of Ma Durga, which are historically and religiously very significant.   

After a two-year gap because of the covid induced pandemic, this year the state geared up for a grand celebration. Puja committees were busy preparing for the festivities and even increased their budgets from 20% to 50% last year. More than 300 puja pandals were put up across Ranchi this year. Artisans from different states, including Bengal, were called to prepare Puja pandals. 

In fact, it isn't an uncommon sight for roads to turn chock-a-bloc at this time of the year. All major roads and lanes in the state capital Ranchi and other districts, including Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad, West Singbhum, too saw similar scenes.   

Incessant rain failed to dampen the festive spirit in Jharkhand, where revellers thronged Durga Puja pandals on Tuesday and offered prayers despite water logging at several places. Almost all parts of the state received rain under a low-pressure system.    

However, men, women, and children decked up in their best attires refused to yield to the bad weather, and long queues were witnessed during Maha Navami.  

As the nine-day-long Navratri ended on Vijayadashmi, people in various towns across the state celebrated the auspicious festival by burning Ravana effigies. The hon'ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, praised Vijayadashami at the Morabadi Maidan where effigies of Ravana was burnt. Durga Puja was celebrated with utmost zeal and zest by maintaining peace and harmony.