Kolkata: The world's tallest Goddess Durga has cast a shadow over Kolkata. She has been closed for public viewing. That is the latest decision of the Kolkata Police after a near stampede on Sunday evening at Deshapriya Park where the idol is installed.
Thousands had descended at Deshapriya Park from across Bengal; traffic across south Kolkata had been thrown out of gear, metro services disrupted by people heading to it and then a near stampede that injured 11.
Today, too, crowds kept coming in the hope of a glimpse of the 88.1 feet tall idol. But around 5 pm, Kolkata Police commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayasta held a press conference to announce the puja is shut. Banners were put up on the park fence and police persons made announcements over megaphones.
Terribly disappointed, Rajesh Kumar from Burdwan said, "This puja was advertised for three months. The administration should have considered our religious sentiments and made some arrangements. They should allow us a glimpse at least." He had come to see the idol with his six-year-old daughter.
Dipali Bag, a housewife from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, had an equally sorry tale to tell. "I came with my children to see the goddess on Sunday. It was very crowded. We couldn't see, so we stayed on the footpath at night to see the idol today. But no luck. We will go back now," she lamented.
The blame game is on. Police have filed a First Information Report or FIR against the puja organisers for not taking adequate steps. Organisers say police could have done more.
Some enthusiasts are still praying for a miracle. 18-year-old Oindrilla said, "I am feeling very sad. I hope they will eventually allow us to see it. There are still some days of the Puja left."
There are hundreds of other beautiful Durga Pujas across Kolkata, but the forbidden fruit, as usual, is the sweetest.
Thousands had descended at Deshapriya Park from across Bengal; traffic across south Kolkata had been thrown out of gear, metro services disrupted by people heading to it and then a near stampede that injured 11.
Today, too, crowds kept coming in the hope of a glimpse of the 88.1 feet tall idol. But around 5 pm, Kolkata Police commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayasta held a press conference to announce the puja is shut. Banners were put up on the park fence and police persons made announcements over megaphones.
Dipali Bag, a housewife from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, had an equally sorry tale to tell. "I came with my children to see the goddess on Sunday. It was very crowded. We couldn't see, so we stayed on the footpath at night to see the idol today. But no luck. We will go back now," she lamented.
Advertisement
Some enthusiasts are still praying for a miracle. 18-year-old Oindrilla said, "I am feeling very sad. I hope they will eventually allow us to see it. There are still some days of the Puja left."
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
India vs Sri Lanka Squad 4 Takeaways: Hardik Pandya Snubbed From Leadership Group, Big Stars Ignored And More Monsoon Special: 2 Ways To Make Kolkata-Style Fish Fry For A Rainy Evening Watch: Gautam Gambhir's Farewell Note To KKR Has A Special Team India Connection Over 300 Indian Students Return Home As 105 Bangladeshis Killed In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV Massive Worldwide Microsoft Outage: Flights, Markets, Stock Exchange Down Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests Tesla Halted Some Production Lines Due To Global IT Outage: Report SpiceJet Says Services Up Again After "Resolution" Of Microsoft Outage Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.