Abode of Clouds decked up to welcome ‘Jayanti’

Shillong: As the city of pines and orchids gears up for one of the biggest festivals ahead, the ‘Abode of Clouds’ is decked up to receive the victorious ‘Jayanti’, whose ancient abode is located at Nartiang in the Jaintia Hills.
More than 500-years-old, the Durga Temple at the erstwhile capital of the Jaintia Kingdom in Meghalaya is also revered as one of the 51 ‘shaktipeeths’ in the country.
‘Shaktipeeths’ have originated from the myth of Daksha’s yagya and Sati's self immolation. It is said Shiva carried the corpse of Devi Sati and portions of the Devi’s corpse fell wherever he wandered in his distress, after Vishnu severed Sati’s body with his ‘chakra’(disc).
The ‘Shakti’ of Nartiang Devi shrine is addressed as ‘Jayanti’ and the ‘Bhairava’ as ‘Kramadishwar’. It is believed that Devi Sati's left thigh had fallen here.
During Durga Puja, a banana plant is dressed up and worshipped as the Goddess. At the end of the four-day festivities, the plant is ceremoniously immersed in the Myntdu River and a gun salute is also accorded to the Goddess.
Of the 65 odd community Durga Pujas this year, the Jail Road Puja Committee has drawn up special programmes to celebrate its centenary.
The unique annual pre-puja ‘Get-together of harmony’ involving representatives from various religious bodies would be held on September 27 with Governor Krishan Kant Paul as the chief guest at the Jail Road Puja pandal.
The Prasad Gupta Memorial Indigenous Percussion and ‘Dhak’ (traditional drum) competition will be held at the Rilbong Puja pandal this year. “Cultural programmes will be held in almost all the puja pandals, reflecting the unique diversity of the state,” said a senior member of the Central Puja Committee, which facilitates smooth conduct of pujas across the state.
“Puja pandals are being constructed based on various themes of social and environmental awareness,” says JL Das, secretary of the CPC.
Meanwhile, elaborate security measures have been undertaken across the state, including the terror-struck Garo Hills in view of the ensuing Durga Puja festival.