Shillong: Shillong is counting down to Durga Puja. The festival runs from October 17 to October 21 this year. Saptami spans two days, giving the city an extra evening of festivities. Workers are finishing pandals and preparing idols across town. Locals are bracing for crowds, queues for prasad, and vibrant light displays.
Rilbong reaches a major milestone. The local Durga Puja committee celebrates its centenary this year. Organizers launched the festivities with a marathon on Friday and a food festival on Saturday. The celebration marks a significant achievement for any committee in Meghalaya.
Shoppers are hitting Police Bazaar and Iewduh. Online apps continue to cut into physical sales, but the mood remains festive. Children are already planning their evening outings for the bonus night of celebrations. Despite recent local unrest, spirits are high.
Residents are balancing past anxieties with current party plans. People discuss pandal schedules, event lineups, and weather forecasts between mentions of recent events. The town has a history of turning to the festival to move forward.
The air will soon carry the scent of khichuri, payesh, and dhunuchi. Stalls offering puchka, chaat, and eggrolls are setting up to feed the crowds. As one local observed, "The Goddess, as usual, will not mind any of it."
Neighbors from all backgrounds join the lights and the food. Critics are already debating which pandals will outshine others. Traffic will surely clog the lanes. The city is ready.
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