Residents attend the Puja at Gaya Durga Bari on Monday. Picture by Suman

Bhagalpur, Oct. 3: The organisers of Arya Dharma Pracharani Sabha O Bhagalpur Durga Bari, a community Puja at Moshak Chowk, have made a noble attempt to bring lonely, old women out of the four walls and enjoy Puja festivities. Also, keeping conservation of environment in mind, the organisers have decided to go green with the pandal decorations.

Taking a cue from the Sanskrit shloka, Janani janmobhumicha sargadapi gariashi (mother and motherland are superior to heaven), the Puja committee organised matri vandana during the Adivash and Amantran (rituals to invite the Goddess) on Sashthi evening. A cultural programme was also organised on the occasion.

Amita Moitra, a senior member of Durga Bari Puja Committee, said: “Durga Puja is in a way celebration of womanhood. Kumari Puja (worshiping small girls as the goddess) is already included in the Puja rituals. But this time, we have decided to do something special for destitute old women.”

She hoped such events would spread a positive message among people to develop a helping attitude towards aged women.

“There are many aged women in our society who spend their time in depression and loneliness during the Puja. Their daughters and sons have migrated for jobs and hence, they prefer to stay indoors. We have decided to invite them to our pandal. We would felicitate them and let them know how special they are for us,” said Subroto Moitra, secretary of the committee.

Over 20 women in the age group of 60-82 have been selected for felicitation, said Amita.

The Puja organisers also hosted a sit-and-draw competition on Sashthi morning on the topic — conservation of the environment. “Such contests would not only help develop drawing skill among children but also encourage the young generation to think about the importance of environment,” she said.

“We are more cautious about environment this time and have made it a point to avoid artificial products in our pandal. Our pandal is eco-friendly and we are distributing bhog among devotees in clay pots,” said Pocha Bagchi, a member of the committee.