Ranchi: Durga Puja is incomplete for many Bengali families in the capital city without offering pushpanjali at the century-old Durgabati near Albert Ekka Chowk. However, owing to the pandemic this time, many devotees have opted for the virtual mode to keep the tradition alive.
Puja rituals like pushpanjali and sandhya aarti, among others, are being streamed live on various social media platforms from Durgabati.
Talking to TOI, the assistant secretary of Sri Sri Harisabha and Durga Puja Samiti at Durgabati, Setanka Sen, said: “After the state government announced Puja guidelines barring devotees from visiting pandals, we were flooded with calls from devotees who wanted to know how they would participate in the rituals. We then decided to broadcast the Puja live on our Facebook page.”
The Facebook page of Durgabati Ranchi has received more than 12,000 views since going live on Wednesday. “The live darshan will continue till Dussehra. Now, devotees across the world will be able to witness our Puja rituals,” Sen said.
When asked about the virtual darshan, Aparna Sen, a first-year college student, said: “I have been taking part in Puja at Durgabati since I was a small kid. In other years, I and my friends participated in cultural programmes here organised during Durga Puja. I’m badly missing those sessions, but then we cannot do anything about it.”
Pratima Chaudhary, a 66-year-old devotee, said: “I have been visiting Durgabati for the last 47 years. However, this year, I’m stuck in Bengaluru since the lockdown began. But then I am happy that the Puja committee has made the virtual arrangement. I am following each and every broadcast.”