Shillong: Rilbong takes center stage during this year’s Durga Puja. The locality and its local Puja committee are both celebrating 100 years. Expect big crowds. The Central Puja Committee said, “This year, both the establishment of the locality and the Durga Puja are completing 100 years. So there will be a big celebration.”
Organizers have planned a food festival, a marathon, and a ceremony to honor 25 figures who shaped Shillong. Lumparing Durga Puja Committee also hits a milestone, marking its 75th anniversary. Greater Shillong hosts 61 committees and eight private pujas. Meghalaya counts 142 pujas in Garo Hills, 11 in East Khasi Hills, and nine in Jaintia Hills.
The CPC coordinates these events and other festivals like Diwali. Popular sites include Jail Road, RR Colony, Harisabha, Laban, and Mawprem. Budgets fluctuate by size: big committees spend up to 25 lakh rupees, while smaller ones run on 7 to 8 lakh. The CPC insists on eco-friendly methods. They use natural materials and vegetable dyes. “Soil goes back to soil. And wood. So there is nothing environmentally harmful,” the committee noted while pushing to cut down on pollution.
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