Bengal in Varanasi

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Temple town turns into mini Bengal

HT Correspondent

Varanasi, September 30

AS THE heavy rush of devotees thronged different puja pandals to pay

their obeisance to Goddess Durga, the temple town of Varanasi seems

to have turned into a replica of mini Bengal during the ongoing

Navratra festival.

 

An ambience of euphoria along with religious and spiritual sense was

palpable on Friday and Saturday evening as the fragrance of `Lohban'

and `Dhup' pervaded in the air along with the chanting of Vedic

mantras in different puja pandals.

 

Different traditional dance items like `Dhak' and `Dhunuchi' have

also been organised in different puja sites to pay their obeisance

to Goddess Durga. A traditional Bengali play `Jatra' was organised

by Kashi Durgotsav Samiti in Shivala area on Friday evening.

 

The ever-busiest routes of Sonarpura-Gaudaulia, Gaudaulia-

Lahuraveer, Lahuraveer-Teliabagh, Ramapura-Gaudaulia and Gaudaulia-

Luxa have been witnessing heavy rush of devotees approaching toward

different puja sites.

 

Thousands of makeshift shops of food items and soft drinks have been

set up at different localities. Devotional songs, decorative light

arrangements and giant welcome gates are adding flavour to the

Navtara celebration.

 

Prominent puja pandals at Hathua market, Chetganj, Bhelupura,

Sonarpura, Machchodari, Sarai Goerdhanpur and Sigra have been

drawing much crowds of devotees.

 

The district administration has already imposed traffic restrictions

on prominent routes to give smooth passage to devotees. Devotees

also observed fast on the day of Maha Ashtami on Saturday. Special

puja, `Kunwari Kanya pujan, was also organised at different places.

Ramkrishna Mission organised a `Kunwari Kanya Pujan' on its premises

amid chanting of Vedic mantras in Luxa area.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1810173,0015002500030002.htm