Patna: Dressed in their best, large number of men, women and children are turning out before the decorated Durga Puja pandals in most of the cities of Bihar - Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Motihari, Siwan, Chapra, Madhubani, Darbhanga and Purnia to offer prayers on Ashtami on Tuesday.
In the state capital, several beautiful pandals have come up at Bangali Akhara, Ramkrishna Mission Aashrama, Yaarpur Kalibari, Adalatganj, Chajjubag (PWD). Tight security arrangements have been made for the festival across the state, Director General of Police Abhayanand said.
`Dhakis (drum beaters) from West Bengal enthralled visitors at various pandals with their traditional drum playing to invoke the mother goddess on Ashtami day today.
Worship and veneration of the Goddess started early Monday morning at all the Shaktipeeths in the state capital. Devotees thronged famous Shitla Mata Mandir, Agamkuan, Badi Patan Devi, Choti Patan Devi, Bansghat Kali temple, Hanuman temple, Panchshiva, Darbhanga house temple, Kadamkuan Durga temple, Chakaram Devi temple, Yaarpur Kali temple.
A replica of Mahadev Mandir of Kannauj (UP) is drawing visitors at Dak Bunglow crossing.
The pandal has been decorated with electrical display of India`s historic 2011 cricket world cup win, scenes of Osama Bin Laden`s elimination in Pakistan, army training in military academy, bear dance, tabla playing chimpanzee and Akshardham temple.
Durga would be seen walking with Vishnu, Narad, Shukracharya and demons in the backdrop of a light and sound show on 40 feet high replica of a mountain at the pandal set up at Sheikhpura more, in Patna. Another pandal highlight is a fasting Anna Hazare and demons trying to kill him and as soon as the demons are killed, flowers rain from heavens.
The pandal of Doman Bhagat lane, Kadamkuan represents Lakshmi Narayan temple of Delhi.
A 3000 square feet green garden in a 16000 square puja pandal in Govind Mitra road provides much-needed visual relief to visitors.
Mobile floats with snippets from Mahabharata, including Draupaadi`s disrobing incident is evoking curiosity among people.
PTI