Varanasi, 09 October (Hindustan Reporter). The three-day Durga Puja in the city of Kashipuradhipati Baba Vishwanath started from Wednesday evening on the seventh day of Shardiya Navratri. Late evening on the Shashthi date of Navratri, the idols of Maa Durga and other deities were consecrated in all the puja pandals of the district after ritual chanting of mantras and havan puja. During this period, rituals like Ghat establishment, Bodhan, invitation and adhivas etc. were performed in Bangiya puja pandals. With this, the doors of puja pandals were opened for the general public. Amidst the echo of drums in the pandals, people started coming with their families to worship Maa Durga.
Rainbow colors were scattered on the streets due to the grandeur of the puja pandals and the surrounding decorations with colorful electric lights. People were also seen taking selfies on the streets and roads illuminated with fringes. There was a huge crowd of people in the pandals located at Hathua Market located in Lahurabir, Sanatan Dharma Inter College, Jagatganj Vijeta Sporting Club, Machhodari, Sonarpura, Jangambari, Mini Stadium located in Shivpur, Pandeypur, Ardali Bazaar. Premier Boys Club of Hathua Market has made the pandal a replica of the Swaraveda temple located in Chaubepur Umrah. Similarly, the pandal built in Sanatan Dharma Inter College located on New Road has been made like the famous Sheesh Mahal of Jaipur. The show based on Baba Vishwanath in the pandal remains the center of attraction among the people. The pandal located at Machhodari has been built on the lines of the Mahakal temple of Ujjain. In Shivpur Mini Stadium, Sri Sri Durga Puja Committee has made a pandal on the lines of Prem Mandir built in Vrindavan. The height of the pandal here is 80 feet and width is 120 feet. The 15 feet high statue of Maa Durga in a calm posture in the pandal is very much liked by the people.
Organization Minister of the committee, Rohit Keshari said that the scene of Lord Krishna performing Raas with the Gopis at the main gate of the pandal is attracting the devotees. About one and a half to two lakh visitors are coming to visit this pandal every day. For their security, 25 CCTV cameras have been installed around the pandal. Bouncers and 60 to 70 volunteers of the committee are deployed for the security of the people. There is a Dandiya program late in the evening on the first day. Devi Jagran will be organized by the committee on Ashtami and Navami.