Jamshedpur, Sept. 25: Call it a just another celebration or an attempt to stick to one’s roots — different communities in Jamshedpur have their own unique way to make Durga puja special this year.
The Jamshedpur Durga Puja Kendriya Samity (JDPKS) has officially listed 248 pujas, which are to be held in the city, but there are a few community pujas, which add to the city’s cosmopolitan culture.
Besides the Bengali community, which dominates the puja celebration here, there are the Oriya, Nepali and Sikh communities, that would add to the festivity of the season. But amid all these, the puja at Durga Mata Temple near Akashdeep Plaza in Golmuri stands apart.
Celebrated at the residence of Gurmej Singh in Sonari for the past 17 years, this is the only place in the city, where a Sikh priest performs the rituals. Over a hundred Punjabi families gather to celebrate.
“What makes our puja special is the 41 feet high flag that is hoisted on Saptami every year. The immersion is quite similar to what one sees at Vaishno Devi and the langar also takes place,” said priest Gurmej Singh. However, he is assisted by a Nepali priest who has been visiting the city for over two decades.
While the Sikhs perform one special puja, the Utkal Samaj holds eight, which are celebrated in the traditional Oriya style.
“There are eight separate pujas conducted by the Oriya community, the oldest being the one held at the Utkal Association in Sakchi which is celebrating its 74th year today,” said Tara Chand Mohanty president of JDPKS, also associated with the Utkal Association Puja.
A few other pujas organised by this community includes the ones held at the Kadma Ganesh puja grounds, Dhatkidih Utkal Sarbojanin and the Purulia bus stand in Sakchi.
Three pujas are performed by Nepalis in the city. While two are held at Adityapur, the main puja is organised by the Jamshedpur Nepali Samiti in Golmuri.
Started in 1969, till last year the Nepalis indulged in animal sacrifice on Ashtami which has stopped after the replica of the Pashupatinath Temple was built.
