Siliguri, 08th October: Mitra Sammilani’s Durga Puja is set to enter its centenary year, with the organisers planning a special celebration centred around memories, emotions and stories associated with Siliguri of a bygone era.
The centenary celebrations will go beyond the usual religious festivities, with the puja committee planning to recreate glimpses of the city’s past and introduce the younger generation to a different chapter of Siliguri’s history.
At a time when Siliguri’s roads were not as busy as they are today, bullock carts were one of the main modes of transport. According to the organisers, landlords and members of affluent families would travel from distant tea gardens in bullock carts to visit Mitra Sammilani’s Durga Puja.
The festive atmosphere at the puja premises would continue late into the night. Along with viewing the idol, visitors would watch plays through the night before returning home in bullock carts at dawn.
Over the years, the city has changed significantly, with faster vehicles replacing bullock carts and increased traffic and congestion becoming part of everyday life. Despite these changes, memories associated with Mitra Sammilani’s Durga Puja from those days remain alive.
As part of the centenary celebrations, the puja committee has planned a special presentation highlighting Siliguri’s bygone days while continuing the traditional rituals and customs of the puja.
The centenary celebrations will begin with a procession on Mahalaya. The puja premises and surrounding roads will be decorated with photographs and memorabilia depicting different aspects of the city’s past, including its lifestyle, transport system and everyday life.
A model of the toy train will also be one of the special attractions of the centenary celebrations.
The organisers believe the initiative will allow the older generation to revisit memories of a bygone era while giving the younger generation an opportunity to learn about Siliguri’s past.
