Assam: Kamrup district issues safety guidelines for Durga Puja celebrations

Guwahati (Assam) [India], October 3 : Ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations in Guwahati, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration has issued an advisory to the puja celebration committees, including installation of CCTV cameras, declaring the areas as no tobacco and no alcohol zones.
The district administration and police administration on Thursday held a meeting with the office bearers of more than 400 puja celebration committees to ensure and maintain a safe and peaceful environment during the festival time.
Sumit Sattawan, District Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro), told ANI that in the meeting was held with the puja committees and the administration has issued many instructions to ensure that the festival is conducted peacefully.
"We advise the puja committees to install CCTV cameras in the puja pandals and many committees have assured us to follow this. Police administration will also issue traffic advisory during the festival time," Sumit Sattawan said.
Meanwhile, Guwahati City Police Commissioner Diganta Barah said that instructions have been issued by the administration to the puja committees while celebrating the Durga Puja.
"Durga Puja is a festive season in Assam and in Guwahati. We are going to celebrate the Durga Puja from October 9 to October 12. From our administration side, we have conveyed a meeting with the office bearers of more than 400 puja committees of Guwahati. We discuss the measures that are to be adopted and implemented while celebrating Durga Puja in different puja pandals. The office bearers of all the puja committees to adhere to the instructions issued by the administration by police administration as well as by the civil administration," Diganta Barah said.
Durga Puja, synonymous with Navratri in the eastern and northeastern regions of India, celebrates the triumph of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolising the victory of good over evil. In southern states, the festival honours the victories of Goddess Durga or Kali, while in Gujarat, Navratri is marked by aarti followed by traditional garba dances.
Throughout India, Navratri celebrations involve the worship of nine forms of the goddess over nine days, with rituals including stage decorations, recitals, and the chanting of scriptures. The festival is also a cultural event tied to the harvest season, featuring pandal competitions, family visits to these installations, and public performances of classical and folk dances.
The final day, Vijayadashami, marks the victory of good over evil. Statues of Goddess Durga are immersed in water bodies, or effigies of demons are burnt with fireworks, symbolising the destruction of evil. The festival also sets the stage for the upcoming Diwali celebrations, which follow 20 days after Vijayadashami.