Berhampore(Orissa): A Durga Puja started in this silk city 75 years ago by Bengalis has come a long way to celebrate its platinum jubilee year in a big way.
The puja was started in 1934 by a a group of employees of the then Bengal-Nagpur Railway near the railway station. "When we started Durga Puja in the town, we named it as adi or the first Durga Puja Committee," it's president Ashok Kuna Jana said. The puja was shifted to the campus of the Khallikote College in 1940 and then to the Berhampur Law College before a permanent pandal was constructed at Chatterjee Lane near the old bus stand area, vice-president of the committee, Aparesh Banarjee, said.
"Not only Bengali families in Berhampur, but people of other faiths gather here during the pujas," said a mamber of the committee Deep Rani Chakladar. Christians and Muslims also contributed for the puja, she said. It's also an occasion to bring together the around 500 Bengali families living the city.
