Mamata Thanks Cops, Public for Smooth End to Muharram & Durga Puja

Security was beefed up in Kolkata for Muharram procession and Durga idol immersion.

Indian Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves in a procession to mark Ashoura during Muharram.

(Photo: iStock)

Around 2,500 Durga Puja committees immersed their idols in the Hooghly, one day after Muharram, Kolkata Mayor Shovon Chatterjee said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee took to Facebook to thank pujas communities, police and all communities for the peaceful end to the festive season.

Read the full post below:

Thousands of Muslims took out processions on Sunday braving intermittent rains on the occasion of Muharram which passed off peacefully in West Bengal.

Muslim-dominated areas of Kolkata like Park Circus, Rajabazar, Kolkata port area including adjoining Kidderpore, Iqbalpur, Mominpur and Metiabruz witnessed huge processions.

Also Read: Muharram-Dussehra Clashes Break Out in Parts of UP, Bihar

Like the previous year, Muharram in 2017 too falls right after the Bijoya Dashami or Dussehra that is vastly celebrated throughout the city by Hindus.

Security Stepped up for Muharram Processions

Security was beefed up in Kolkata for the mourning processions by Shiite Muslims on the 10th day of Muharram, police said.

The West Bengal government had initially issued a directive prohibiting the Durga idol immersion on the day of Muharram to avoid any form of unrest between the two communities. However, the Calcutta High Court cancelled the state government’s directive and allowed the Durga Puja immersion to take place on all days after Dussehra till midnight.

"Nearly 7,000 to 8,000 personnel have been deployed on the streets to monitor the processions," a Kolkata Police officer told IANS.

The HC had asked the administration to take up necessary security measures to ensure that the processions of both communities can be conducted peacefully.

Also Read: “I Will Not be Responsible for Violence,” Mamata Hits Back at HC

However, only a few household pujas in Kolkata on Sunday immersed their Durga idols, but none of the big puja organisers.

Around 3,500 community pujas were held in the city this year, while over thousands more were organised in the suburban towns and villages across West Bengal.

From Monday, there will be immersions as it happened on Saturday. Immersions will continue till October 4.

Kolkata Police officer

(With PTI and IANS inputs)