Guwahati, Oct 21: As devotees across Assam prepare to bid farewell to Goddess Durga on Bijoya Dashami, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Wednesday, invoked the festival’s triumph-of-good-over-evil theme to deliver a pointed message, saying forces perceived as evil would eventually lose their influence.
“We have seen from the last few months how some evil forces were on the rise, they have so far lost their power as Bijoya Dashami approached. And we believe that always in society evil forces will lose and good power will rise. This is like from ancient times and will continue,” Sarma said in his Bijoya Dashami message.
While the Chief Minister did not name any organisation, his remarks came amid a politically charged atmosphere, with protests and demands for change keeping political discourse active in the state and beyond.
Sarma, who was expected to visit an immersion ghat in Guwahati during the day, said the festival symbolised the enduring victory of good over evil.
Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements have been made at Lachit Ghat and Pandu Ghat in Guwahati for the immersion of Durga idols, with the administration scheduling the process over Wednesday and Thursday to manage the expected crowds and ensure orderly proceedings.
Immersion activities are scheduled to begin at noon at the designated ghats. Household idols are expected to arrive from early morning, while larger idols installed by community puja committees are likely to reach the sites later in the day.
“We have deployed four teams comprising around 30 personnel across Lachit Ghat, Pandu Ghat, Sankat Mochan Ghat and Palasbari, covering the nearby immersion sites as well. Our teams will remain deployed round the clock for the two days of immersion,” an NDRF official said.
Hydra cranes have been readied to handle large idols, while personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to assist with safety arrangements.
“Guwahati requires a two-day deployment due to the larger number of idols, while around 40 personnel have been deployed across the ghats in Jorhat for the one-day immersion,” an SDRF personnel stationed in Jorhat said.
The two-day immersion schedule is intended to manage the large number of community idols expected in Guwahati, reduce congestion and facilitate the smooth movement of devotees and processions as the festival draws to a close.