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SIVASAGAR: Sri Sri Maha Shivaratri Puja and Mela, which has been held in connection with the Maha Shivaratri in the historic Shiv Dol and its premises in Sivasagar since the Ahom period, is going to be celebrated with a five-day programme from February 17 to February 21.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the inaugural function to be held at 6 pm on February 17, the first day of the Sri Sri Mahashivratri Puja and Mela, being organized by the Sivasagar Dol Development Parishad. After the release of the book titled Sivasagar Borpukhuri aru Tinita Dol published by the Sivasagar Dol Development Parishad at 6.45 pm on February 17 at the temporary pandal at Dolmukh Chariali, the Saranga Cultural Group of Dhitaipukhuri will perform ‘Hirankshyar Mukshan, Shukracharyar Darpa Haran’.
A souvenir titled Panchanan, edited by Anamuddin Ahmed, will be released on the evening of February 18. This will be followed by a devotional singing performance by folk artist Khagen Gogoi and singer Mayuri Dutta. A devotional cultural evening will also be held on the evening of February 19 by popular singer Bastab Nath. On February 20 evening, a devotional cultural programme will feature Shiv Vandana, Shiva dance, women’s troupe’s dihanam as well as devotional songs of popular singer Dhanti Das.
Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi will inaugurate the devotional cultural programme on the evening of February 21, the last day of Shivratri Puja and Mela., which will be followed by renowned Bollywood singer Padma Shri Dr Anuradha Paudwal’s concert ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. President of the celebration committee and Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner Aditya Vikram Yadav and general secretary Basanta Gogoi sought the presence and cooperation of the public in all the programmes of Sri Sri Mahashivaratri Puja and Mela.
On the other hand, in view of the fact that thousands of devotees and visitors throng every year in the fair covering the Shiv Dol premises and its surroundings, Fuleswari Girls’ Higher Secondary School playground, the Sri Sri Mahashivaratri Puja and Mela Celebration Committee has already arranged CCTV cameras to monitor the entire area, informed Basant Gogoi, general secretary. In line with Shivaratri Puja and Mela, various sub-committees such as souvenirs, publicity, volunteering, sanitation and cleaning, disaster management, and security management have been constituted to oversee the various activities of the festival. This time, arrangements have been made to allot 580 different stalls through lottery at the office of the Dol Development Parishad, informed Chandan Phukan, the convener of the venue determination committee.
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