Thousands out on streets to celebrate Maha Saptami in Tripura

Solemnity and ceremony marked Maha Saptami - day two of the Durga Puja.

Thousands of men, women and children, turned up in their best on the streets in Agartala making rounds of different marquees as the Durga Puja festivities got off to an electrifying start in Tripura.

With the azure sky belying the party-pooping rain forecast of the met office, people walked shoulder to shoulder soaking in the fun and gaiety as a spruced-up Agartala was resplendent under thousands of kilowatts of bright lights twinkles and pompous marquees.

The usual five-day autumn carnival, shortened to a four-day affair this time according to the almanac, is the biggest in eastern and northeast India – is being celebrated across the state, with every city, small town and village joining in the merriment.

The community pujas in the state number around 2,400 this year of which 800 are taking place in remote tribal areas in the districts.

Hundreds of people from all communities and religions were seen hopping from one pandal (temporary temple) to another while many other waiting to enter the pandals.

Roads are choked with human traffic throughout right from the evening.

Ranjan Paul, a pandal hopper said: "We were worried that it will be raining during the puja days but the rain god has been very kind and the sky is clear. We were really enjoying and thousand of people are in the streets of Agartala. We have seen many pandals and after having food outside shall move from one pandal to another tonight."

Various themes were displayed in the pujas and the crowd was attracted towards recent incidents which were displayed like global warming, archeological heritage, traditional music of India and other contemporary issues.

Many imaginary temples with intricate designs created out thermocol and plywood and colourful lights also attracted pandal hoppers.

"Right from the afternoon I along with my family and friend is on the streets to see puja and enjoying it. There is huge rush in the streets and so could not complete all the pandals. Tomorrow again have to come out to see other pujas. The pandals were nice here," said Vinod Debbarma, another pandal hopper.

According to Hindu mythology, the festivities and prayers begin with the symbolic arrival of the goddess on earth on the sixth day of the first quarter of the moon and ends on Dashami or the 10th day, which is celebrated across the country as Dussehra.

Traditionally, every pandal has an idol of Goddess Durga depicting her as slaying the demon Mahishasur.

The goddess, astride a lion and wielding an array of weapons in her ten hands, eradicates all evil from the earth before returning to her husband Lord Shiva at Kailash on Dashmi.

The festival will conclude Friday, when the idols would be immersed by teary eyed devotees in the rivers, lakes and ponds. On this day, she returns to her husband, Lord Shiva.