Golaghat district administration urges Durga Puja committees to honour Dr Bhupen Hazarika with portraits and music

Dibrugarh:

Golaghat district administration has called upon all Durga Puja committees to display portraits of legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika and play his timeless compositions during this year’s festivities, as part of state govt’s year-long centenary celebrations honouring the Bharat Ratna recipient.District commissioner Pulak Mahanta made this special request during a comprehensive preparatory meeting held at the district library auditorium on Friday, which brought together puja committee representatives, senior citizens, police officials, and administrative staff to discuss arrangements for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.“Keeping in view the year-long centenary celebrations initiated by state govt from Sept 8 this year on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr Bhupen Hazarika, we request all puja committees to arrange for paying tribute with a portrait of Dr Bhupen Hazarika at every puja pandal.

Let every pandal resonate with the voice of Bhupenda. It will be a fitting tribute to the bard of the Brahmaputra,” the DC said during the meeting, which was also attended by senior superintendent of police Rajen Singh.The administration has emphasised that each puja committee should display photographs or banners of the world-renowned artist at their respective sites as a mark of respect, while also incorporating his musical legacy through sound systems at the pandals.

Beyond the tribute to Dr Hazarika, the meeting addressed numerous safety and organisational measures for the festival. The district administration stressed the importance of advance online applications for permissions through the official portal assampolicesewasetu/pol.citizen.assam.gov.in, requiring each committee to designate a responsible liaison person, whose contact information must be submitted to local police stations.Each committee was urged to arrange for night guards and firefighting equipment at the puja sites. The comprehensive safety guidelines include mandatory CCTV installation at all puja locations and the identification of nearly 100 approved immersion ghats across Golaghat district.Traffic management emerged as a crucial concern, with specific instructions that roads should not be blocked by pandals. The administration has proposed separate entry and exit routes for male and female visitors to ensure smooth crowd flow.

Additionally, sound system usage will be restricted, with amplifiers required to cease operations after 10 pm to minimise noise pollution.The meeting also addressed environmental consciousness, with the DC requesting everyone to celebrate this year’s puja as a plastic-free festival. Commercial establishments will be prohibited within 10 metres of puja sites, while proper dustbin facilities must be arranged by organisers.Safety measures extend beyond the celebration period to the immersion ceremony, with strict guidelines requiring adult supervision during idol immersion and prohibiting underage participants from handling this responsibility. All committees must complete immersion processes by 5 pm at administration-approved ghats.The health department will deploy medical personnel at specific puja sites to provide emergency services, while executive magistrates will be appointed to maintain law and order throughout the festivities.

The transport department will actively monitor vehicle speed within municipal areas to ensure road safety.In a unique safety initiative, petrol pump owners have been instructed to refuse fuel sales to motorcycle riders without helmets and they must display “No Helmet No Petrol” signage prominently.The DC emphasised that the measures aim to create a safe, organised, and culturally enriching celebration that honours both religious traditions and Assam’s cultural heritage through the remembrance of Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s contributions to the state’s artistic legacy.