Shillong Oct 2: A get together of harmony was organized by the Central Puja Committee (CPC) on Wednesday which marked the beginning of Puja celebration in the state.
The ensuing Durga Puja celebration will start from October 4 and conclude on October 8 with the immersion of idols. There are 242 Community Durga Puja in Meghalaya which include 118 in Khasi Hills districts, 14 in Jaiñtia Hills and 110 in Garo Hills districts.
Chief minister, Conrad K Sangma, Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, Vincent H Pala, MLAs, religious leaders of different faiths attended the get together besides leaders of different political parties and organizations.
In his speech, Conrad lauded the CPC for taking the resolution and issuing of advisory to all Puja and Mandir Committees to adhere to guidelines in order to ensure environment friendly Durga Puja celebration this season.
Informing about the state government’s initiatives to address the menace of plastics, the Chief Minister urged the citizens to join hands in addressing this problem.
He also called upon the citizens to work towards achieving the goal of making Meghalaya the number one state in the country which is free from the use of plastic.
Expressing optimism that the objective of making Meghalaya clean and green, the chief minister said, “the resolutions that we take should turn into actions and not only in paper so that we achieve the goal.â€
He also lauded the CPC for holding the get together of harmony and all faith prayer for peace and harmony as part of the Puja celebration even as he called for unity and togetherness.
Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala, CPC president Naba Bhattacharjee, general secretary, JL Das also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier the Chief Minister led gathering with a prayer for harmony.
Bhattacharjee informed the gathering about the initiatives of the CPC in line with the initiative of the Chief Minister by putting efforts to reduce the use of plastic of all forms during this Puja celebration.
CPC general secretary, J L Das said that the CPC has advised all Puja Committees not to immerse idols in any stream or river, but they should be immersed only in designated immersion Ghat located at the bank of Umkhrah river, Polo.
He also requested all Puja Committees and owners of private Puja Committees to use only the immersion Ghat at Polo for immersion of idols after worshiping.
