Date:06/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/06/stories/2008100650480200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Durga puja celebrations begin on a grand scale

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj in the city will organise Durga Puja celebrations from Monday to Thursday on its premises behind All India Radio station.

According to its secretary Srikar Mishra, apart from the daily pujas, aarati, and prasada sevan, cultural programmes were also being conducted with eminent artistes from Orissa in action. After the celebrations on Mahasapthami, Maha-ashtami, Mahanavami and Vijaya Dashami, the immersion of Durga idol would be held on Friday evening, he said.

Dasara festival is also being celebrated by Bhagavan Sri Satyasai Seva Organisations in the city at the Sri Satyasai Seva Samithi in Sector 8 of MVP Colony.

The celebrations began on Saturday with a procession of Goddess Durga with 108 kalasas carried by women, chanting of Sri Lalithasahasranamam, kumkumpuja and other rituals. On Sunday, Devi puja was performed and the rituals would continue every day till Vijayadasami on October 9, convenor of the Samithi, D.S.N. Murthy said.

Cultural programmes and spiritual discourses were being conducted during evenings on all days. Also, bhajan mandals in various places in the city were organising the puja and Nagarasankeertana in their respective areas every day, he said.