Amitabha Choudhury and Bibha Neog – They are not just the random names in a series.  

The reason behind mentioning their names is the “common factor” between them. Both of them are “COVID –warriors”. 

They were in isolation during Durga Puja 2020 at Khanapara Covid Care Centre in Guwahati city.   

All hopes of puja pandal hopping were simply ruined after they got infected with the dreaded virus. 

The adorable Aatreyi, the four and half years old daughter of Amitabha Choudhury, missed her dearest friend during the last puja.  

Now with double enthusiasm, from carrying the balloon at hand to pandal hopping to offering “Anjali” on Mahastami, she has simply covered all her expectations to overcome the grievances. 

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Moreover, on the day of “Maha-Navami,” Aatreyi was being worshipped as the little goddess of the “Kumari Puja” at Maligaon Kalibari as part of Navratri Durgotsab.

The situation turned bad to worse for the Choudhury family during puja last year, when following the mandatory COVID-testing order of the Assam Government for all Puja Committee members, Amitabha Choudhury being an executive member of Maligaon Kalibari Durga Puja committee tested positive and was shifted to Covid Care Centre-Khanapara directly from the Puja pandal. 

And later his daughter- Aatreyi, son- Rohan and wife- Gargee also tested Covid positive and were in home isolation.  

So, Durga puja was nothing but a nightmare for them in 2020. 

The two waves of COVID 19 pandemic claimed many lives in Assam.  

“These days I am busy with my ninety (90) years old mother who had a stroke and is under treatment now. I just had a glimpse of the festivity this year.” – told Bibha Neog.   

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Bibha Neog, Assistant Manager, ARTFED, a resident of Beltola had recovered from of COVID 19 after being in isolation during Durga puja last year.  

There may be many such stories of Covid warriors like Amitabha and Bibha across Guwahati.  

The fact is that people have come out to enjoy the festivity in Guwahati. In some parts of the city, the crowd was little controlled but in some areas, it’s beyond imagination as if the dark episode is over.