Patna: Devotees turned up in large numbers at the Ghanshyam Girls’ School Durga Puja pandal in Khagaul on Mahaashtami, marking the 96th year of the traditional celebration. The illuminated pandal, adorned with elaborate decorations, emerged as a major attraction.Started in 1930 during the pre-Independence era, the puja has remained an important part of Khagaul’s cultural and religious traditions. Over the decades, people from different communities, including Anglo-Indians, participated in the celebrations, making it a symbol of the town’s social and cultural diversity, said puja samiti general secretary Arvind Kumar.The celebrations also revived memories among elderly residents of a time when the puja was a focal point of social amity and communal brotherhood.The festive fervour was also visible in Danapur cantonment, Phulwarisharif and Anisabad, where devotees visited several Durga Puja pandals. Long queues were seen at prominent venues, while colourful decorations, roadside stalls and temporary shops added to the festive atmosphere.
