A delegation of Manipuri Xahitya Parishad seeking justice to Manipuri students and teachers

A delegation of Manipuri Xahitya Parishad led by its secretary, Dr M Santi Kumar Singh, met the Chief Minister of Assam recently at Dispur and submitted a memorandum to him, seeking justice to Manipuri students and teachers. (Sentinel)

Central market place of Silchar town, known as Fatak Bazar, on the eve of Id-Ul-Zuha

Caps on sale at the central market place of Silchar town, known as Fatak Bazar, on the eve of Id-Ul-Zuha. (Sentinel)

2013 Mahalaya-Durga Puja in Silchar

Mahalaya-Durga Puja in Silchar 2013 

Much before sunrise, the loudspeakers at different puja pandals blared out devotional hymns of Chandi, the men, women and children flocked to the streets and moved towards the Sadharghat bridge over river Barak, sweetshops flung open their shutters, and balloon-sellers come with the colourful inflated spheres fluttering in the air.

This was the scenario of the town this morning which celebrated the eve of Mahalaya, a new moon day that begins the seven-day countdown to Mahasaptami, the first day of the Durga Puja, in a befitting and customary manner. Mahalaya is the last day of Pitripaksha, a 16 days lunar period, and the beginning of Devipaksha.

Hundreds of people today performed Tarpan, the ritual commemorating and honouring the deceased members of the family, by offering tributes on different water bodies including the river Barak from early in the morning.

As the weather of today’s morning was pleasant with the interplay of fog, cloud and sun, the town witnessed a large turn out of people. To go to Sadharghat bridge over river Barak in the morning is one of the ways to celebrate Mahalaya here. Men, women and children of all ages marched to the bridge from the crack of dawn.

The different organizations held cultural programmes to mark the holiest day. Uttamasha Art Foundation, a socio-cultural organization, staged a dance drama, Mahisasura Mardini involving more than 30 artists in the premises of Dak Banglow. The show started at 4 am with the heralding of all time famous Mahisasura Mardini broadcast from All India Radio. The Mahisasura Mardini has been broadcast by All India Radio since 1930 which continues to stir the hearts of millions across the country for the exceptional narration of the story from Chandi by Birendra Krishna Bhadra. The fusion of devotional songs with the narration of the story gives added finesse to it. And Mahisasur Mardini today becomes a synonymous with Durga puja.

The Itkhola Durga Puja Committee took out an impressive rally with the message of peace, tranquillity, communal harmony and brotherhood among the people of the society. The Committee is celebrating its centenary year of the puja. Members of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangha also took out a march past which moved through the main thoroughfares of the town. The Youth Congress of Cachar district committee served tea with biscuits to the people in the morning.

The security was foolproof to avoid any untoward incident. The additional Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Debasish Chakraborty, was present at the Sadharghat point.

It is believed that on the day of Mahalaya, Goddess Durga is invited to her parental home. The eyes of the idols of Durga are also painted on this auspicious day to mark the descent of the Goddess to the Earth and to breathing of life into the idols. Source: The Sentinel

Yana Gupta at Tejas Gandhi fashion show held at Racquet and Billiards in Guwahati

Yana Gupta walking the ramp flaunting the creations of fashion designer Tejas Gandhi during a fashion show held at Racquet and Billiards in Guwahati on Saturday evening. Yana Gupta, the Czech Diva along with other models, displayed the creations of Tejas Gandhi and Nandini Baruva. (Sentinel)

Silver Jubilee of Institute of Pharmacy of Silchar Medical College

Silver Jubilee celebration of Institute of Pharmacy of Silchar Medical College

The Silver Jubilee celebration of the Institute of Pharmacy of Silchar Medical College and Hospital will begin from tomorrow. In the two-day long celebration, the Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is expected to attend the programme on Saturday. Source: The Sentinel

Army Recruitment Rally in Silchar

Army Recruitment Rally in Silchar
The recruitment rally for the candidates of three districts of Barak Valley- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi – will be held from Friday on the play ground of Kendriya Vidyalaya near the military station at Mashimpur. The posts for which recruitment will be held are general, clerk, store keeper, technical, nurse assistant, tradesmen. The male candidates should be between the age of 18 and 23 years. For the post of general, applicants should be class X passed. This information has been shared by the DIPRO. Source: The Sentinel

Youth Against Social Evils (YASE) Dima Hasao agreement

Youth Against Social Evils (YASE) Dima Hasao agreement
Youth Against Social Evils (YASE) welcomed the steps taken by the Union Home Ministry and the State government not to include the territorial land of Cachar district in Dima Hasao district, now rechristened as Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council. source: The Sentinel 

Natural Disaster Reduction Day observed in Silchar

Natural Disaster Reduction Day observed in Silchar
The Cachar district administration will observe the Natural Disaster Reduction Day on Friday. As part of the programme, a massive rally will be taken out from the office premises of the Deputy Commissioner and then assemble at Silchar Medical College and Hospital point.  source: The Sentinel