Doomdooma: Preparations are underway for the 123rd Durga Puja organised by the Doomdooma Akhamiya Puja and Natya Mandir Samiti at Azad Road in Tinsukia district of upper Assam. The historic puja committee continues to uphold a distinctive tradition of worshipping Goddess Durga without animal or bird sacrifice, a practice it abandoned nearly seven decades ago.
The committee shared details of the upcoming celebrations with reporters at Doomdooma town on Wednesday afternoon.
The six-day festivities will be held from October 16 to 21, combining religious observances with cultural programmes and community activities. The decision to discontinue animal sacrifice around 70 years ago has since become a defining feature of the annual celebration, reflecting the evolution of religious practices while retaining their spiritual significance.
The organisers are making extensive arrangements for this year’s event. The puja received the Sarada Devi Memorial Award from Tinsukia for the third time last year, and the committee is working towards securing the recognition for a fourth time.
Cultural performances and traditional competitions will form an important part of the programme. The renowned Kamrupiya Dhuliya group from Kaihati is scheduled to perform during the celebrations. Competitions in Gosani naam, uruli, conch-shell blowing and aarti will also be organised, encouraging participation in the region’s devotional and cultural traditions.
Religious activities have already commenced, with programmes being held every evening since Mahalaya on October 10. These events have drawn large numbers of devotees to the venue ahead of the main festivities.
Beyond its religious significance, the institution holds an important place in Assam’s theatrical history. According to the committee’s historical account, the Doomdooma Natya Mandir witnessed a milestone in Assamese theatre in 1933, when Abhinayacharya Brajanath Sarma pioneered co-acting at the venue.
Until around four decades ago, the theatre also hosted full-length historical and period plays on the nights of Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. The practice gradually changed over time as the nature of the celebrations evolved.
The annual Durga Puja also serves as a meeting point for people originally from Doomdooma who now reside in other places. Their participation highlights the festival’s continuing role in preserving social connections and a shared cultural identity among the community.
As Doomdooma prepares for the six-day celebration, the committee’s longstanding rejection of animal sacrifice remains central to its identity, alongside its efforts to preserve religious devotion, cultural heritage and community participation.