Saturday, October 8 2005 20:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The greatest festival of Bengal, Durga Puja has finally arrived with puja revellers pouring onto the streets this evening for a darshan of the Goddess and glittering pandals with the weather playing truant.

The metropolis is playing host to Goddess Durga and her progeny, Ganesh, Laxsmhi, Saraswati and Kartick, at intricately designed and innovatively illuminated community pandals.

An hour-long downpour in the afternoon dampened spirits somewhat.

The pujas are a three day affair this time according to the almanac. It officially begins tomorrow (Oct 9, 2005) on Mahasashthi with the formal invocation to the Goddess.

Mahanavami and concluding Mahadashami have fallen on the same day on Wednesday, preceded by Mahasaptami on Monday and Mahastami the day after.

Film celebrities and sports stars added that extra glamour in inaugurating a number of pandals.

West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Fire Services Minister Partim Chatterjee threw open a few pandals.

Hotels and restaurants have geared up to treat the taste buds of pandal-hoppers, some having imported chefs from different parts of the country.

The police have drawn up strategy to maintain a peaceful and trouble-free puja on all the days in the state.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Anuj Sharma said about 10,000 policemen and about 2000 traffic cops were on duty in the city.

Three hundred policemen each have been posted at 16 major pandals from today.

The Railways have begun running puja specials.