Hyderabad: "Hyderabad is a great assimilator. All cultures are nurtured here, all cultures are loved here. Hyderabad is a land of unity," said Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, as he participated in Hyderabad Bangalee Samity's 83rd Durga Puja festivities, at the NTR Stadium here on Friday.
Dev Varma, a member of the Tripura Royal family, performed prayers on Ashtami, the eighth day of the Puja, marking Ma Durga's victory over the demon Mahisasura.
He was accompanied by the state's director of language and culture Dr Mamidi Harikrishna
The Governor commended the Hyderabad Bangalee Samity's efforts in keeping Bengali tradition in good health. "Eighty-three years is a very long time. It is our duty to keep our culture alive, just as it has come down to us over thousands of years. It is great to see Bengalis assimilate with the culture of Telangana and at the same time able to hold onto their own culture," he said.
Tripura has a long tradition of celebrating Durga Puja. "When I came here (after becoming Governor in July this year), I wondered how would the period of pujas be. However, I was soon told there are about 8 lakh Bengalis in Hyderabad and hundreds of Durga Pujas," Varma said.
He advised Bengalis to take up an important positions in maintaining Indian culture. "We look forward to Puja through out the year and it passes us by quickly. Maa comes and blesses us all. All I can say is Ma Durga come again," he said.
On each of the five days (October 8 to 12) of the Puja, Hyderabad Bangalee Samity's organises an Anadanam (bhog). The association says over 14,000 people attend the morning prayers in batches.
"The Samity's Pujas are conducted by a priest from the Bombay Kali Bari. The idol is eco-friendly, made of clay. People from all over Telangana come and join our celebrations," said Sumit Sen, an organiser.
