Mamata urges people to enjoy Pujas peacefully, happily

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday inaugurated several community puja pandals in South Kolkata.

She visited the pandal of Selimpur Sarbojonin Durga Puja on Friday afternoon.

She urged people to enjoy puja and live peacefully and happily. "It is a festival of cooperation, peace and happiness and I pray to Mother Durga to grant us peace, prosperity and happiness," she said.

She was accompanied by state Urban development minister Firhad Hakim and senior leader Subrata Bakshi. Banerjee said the organisers have depicted tradition with modernity. The organisers donated money at the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

She inaugurated puja pandals at 25 Palli, 66 Palli in Kalighat and 74 Palli in Bhowanipore. She also inaugurated the community puja at Abasar, one of the oldest pujas in South Kolkata which is situated in her Assembly constituency.

Banerjee urged people and the organisers to cooperate with each other to make the festival a grand success. "It is a festival of joy and happiness and I wish every person a grand Durga puja," she said.

Anticipating that rain might spoil the four days of puja, people started visiting pandals of important community pujas on Friday despite the fact that all the pandals are not yet ready. People from the neighbouring districts have started coming to the city to see the decorations and lights of community pujas.