Today is not like the regular days for Bimal Das, a small confectioner of Pandu Railway Bazar in Guwahati.
Bimal is busy on a special assignment of preparing the much-delighted offering for the Lord Ganesha, a “5 kg Laddu” on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
“I have been busy since last evening with the preparation and now it’s all set. Happy that for the betterment of all of us the 5 kg Laddu will be offered to Baba,” Bimal says.
But for the Sen-family of Pandu Institute Colony area of the city, this “Laddu” has a special significance in this Covid pandemic hit Assam.
The Covid-19 pandemic has not only affected but also scattered the life of many in these last two years.
Now with the gradual improvement of the scenario with the new SOP, people are able to participate in the Puja, though in a protected manner with safety protocol and precautions which is the need of the hour as a shield for a better future.
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But still, it is a bigger challenge maintaining the SOP-based protocol for all city dwellers as many people are still violating the safety norms.
“This pandemic has spoiled our life in the last two years. So, for the betterment of all, our Sen family is offering a “5-KG laddu” to Baba for the peace and wellbeing of All,” says Ratan Kumar Sen.
Whether it is Bimal Das or Ratan Kumar Sen, the story is almost similar at every puja pandal.
With the opening of the festival season 2021 following Ganesh Chaturthi, people are hopeful that “Baba” will remove all evils from the society towards a prosperous beginning in the Covid-19-hit world.