Organisations distribute puja items among needy

Jamshedpur: Several social, political, and religious organisations, besides individuals have donated Chhath puja materials, including 1,000 kg of fruits and vegetables, to the poor and underprivileged devotees in Jamshedpur and Adityapur on Friday and Saturday.
The distribution work will continue till Sunday afternoon, the organisations engaged in charity work informed.
BJP national vice president and former chief minister Raghubar Das distributed puja paraphernalia among 500 devotees at the Surya Mandir premises in Sidhgora on Saturday. “Donating puja materials to the Chhath ‘vratis’ is a noble work,” he said.
State health minister Banna Gupta offered the puja materials to over 700 devotees at Khudi Ram Bose Chowk in Mango and Adityapur on Friday. He also distributed 2,100 bamboo shoot soups among the needy.
A social outfit, ‘Sankalp aur Nirman’, organised the distribution event near Sheetla Mata Temple in Kadma. Over 507 devotees received the puja packets.
“We are delighted to have over 500 people coming to our distribution centre to receive the puja samagri,” Sunil Gupta, the president of the organisation, said. “Around 1,000kg of fruits and vegetables have been distributed by over 100 organisations across the city,” he added.
Hindu priest Akhilesh Pandey said 24 items, including the dakshina (coins), are needed for the puja.
The Shri Shri 1008 Shiv Hanuman temple in Mango, Shri Shri Ram Navami Seva Samman Samiti in Sonari, Jambu Akhara Samiti, Shriram Sena Samiti and other temple committees distributed the items in their areas.
Individuals too contributed. For example, Niranjan Prasad, a businessman, distributed 101 packets containing puja items among the needy at Rani Kudar.
“Seeing the response, I have decided to distribute 200 packets next year,” he added.
A shop owner, Madan Sahu, said a Chhath puja thali costs Rs 300 to Rs 350.