Durga Puja fever grips Patna

Puja fever gripped Patna on the Maha Ashtami Day (September 26, 2009). Thousands of devotees rushed to Puja Pandals to have “Divya Darshan” of Ma Durga, Ma Laxmi, Ma Saraswati, Lord Ganesh and Lord Karthik.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Stage set for Vijayadashmi

Artiste gives final touches to the eiffigy of demon king Ravan in Patna on September 25, 2009. The effigy will be burnt on September 28, 2009 at Gandhi Maidan to celebrate the victory of good over evil. The day is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijayadashmi.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Foundation laid for ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Bihta

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Friday (September 25, 2009) laid the foundation stone of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Bihta about 40 kilometers from Patna. It is the first of its kind medical college and hospital in Bihar and third in the country.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge were present at the function.

The 500-bed ESIC medical college and hospital will start its first academic session in 2013. The first batch will have 50 students.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Tanishq Queen of Diamond winners

Dame luck favoured five customers in the second mega draw for Queen of Diamond, organised by Tanishq in Patna on September 25, 2009. Top two lucky winners got gitf vouchers of Rs 10,000 each while rest three got Rs 5,000 each.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Seminar on Hernia

Hai Medicare Research Institute organised a seminar on "Hernia" in Patna on September 25, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

LIC's Metropolitan Area Services Hub inaugurated

Life Insurance Corporation of India launched its Metropolitan Area Services Hub (MASH) in Patna on September 25, 2009. Basavaraju, Zonal Manager, East Central Zone, LIC of India, inaugurated the hub. He also distributed cheques to customers under survival benefit claims.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar in Patna

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had a hectic day in Patna on September 25, 2009. Among the series of functions, Meira Kumar first attended a felicitation function at Bihar Legislatisve Assembly. Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Chowdhuary greeted Ms Kumar with traditional rituals. Meira Kumar was also accorded a guard of honour at the Bihar Assembly (bottom pictures).

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar also inaugurated Kisan Mazdoor Sammelan in Patna (Top).

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Ma Durga Idol at Ram Nagari More

Durga idol installed at Ram Nagari More Puja Pandal in Patna on September 25, 2009.
Photo: Tushit Modak

Puja Pandals at R-Block and Raja Bazar

As the Durga Puja starts with the opening of the Maa’s Pat (veil) at Puja Pandals, devotees began to make heavy rush at different Puja Pandals of Patna on September 25, 2009.
Top: A full view of the Puja Pandal at R-Block.

Bottom: Puja Pandal at Raja Bazar.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

A Dandiya way to celebrate Navratri

Natraj Institute, New Patliputra Colony, organised a colourful Dandiya dance function to celebrate the sixth Navratri in Patna on September 24, 2009.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Ambulance donated to Vidyawati Eye Trust

Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister SK Modi hands over the key of the ambulance to Vidyawati Eye Trust in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Secretariat Post Office inaugurated

M Abdali, director, Post Servies, Bihar Circle, inaugurated newly built Secretariat Post Office in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Clean Patna work goes to private company

Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister SK Modi hands over the appointment letters to the new employees of Patna Municipal Corporation, who got jobs on compassionate grounds, in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Altogether 103 persons were given the appointment letters. Modi also distributed two sets of duty dress each to 500 Patna Municipal Corporation sweepers.

Addressing the function, Modi said Bihar Government had decided to hand over the cleanliness work of Patna to a reputed private company without harming the interest of sweepers.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Kisan Jagrukta Abhiyan

Bihar's Agriculture Minister Renu Kumari inaugurated Kisan Jagrukta Abhiyan, organised by Insecticides (India) Limited in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Street play on AIDS

A street play on AIDS was staged at Kargil Chowk, Gandhi Maidan, in Patna on September 24, 2009 to make aware the common people about the dreaded disease.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Lok Morcha to contest 14 seats in Maharashtra Assembly election

Lok Sabha member Digvijay Singh, who floated a new party Lok Morcha, talks to media in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Digvijay Singh said Lok Morcha would contest 14 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly election, in alliance with the Third Frofnt.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

AISF meeting

All India Students Federation (AISF) held its Patna unit meeting at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Durga Puja at Moon Club, Jagdeo Path

Durga Puja Pandals are ready to welcome devotees in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Pandal decorations have been the integral part of Durga Puja celebrations. Social Clubs plan out their themes of the Pandals well in advance and decorators give their best to bring the themes into reality.
Top: Durga Idols installed at Moon Club, Jagdeo Path, Patna

Bottom: Puja Padnal of Moon Club, Jagdeo Path.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Durga Puja Pandal at Gardanibagh Road No.10

As the stage is set for Maha Saptami Puja on September 25, 2009, Durga Puja Pnadal at Gardanibagh Road No. 10. is ready to welcome devotees in Patna on September 24, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Stage set for Maha Saptami Puja

Finishing touches are being given to Ma Durga idol at a Puja Pandal near Bans Ghat in Patna on September 24, 2009.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Creativity at its peak

Craftsmanship at its peak: Idol makers give finishing touches to Goddess Durga being made of mustard seeds (top) and raisins and dry fruits (bottom) and at two puja pandals in Patna on September 23, 2009.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Dandiya competition at Patna Preparatory School

Patna Preparatory School organised a Dandiya competition in Patna on September 23, 2009 to mark the 9-day Navratri celebrations. Students of the school presented heart-throbbing performnaces on number of Dandiya-hit songs.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

New Museum in Patna soon

Bihar Government is all set to give a new look to Patna Museum.
Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi announced that a new museum and a huge convention centre would be constructed near Patna Women’s College. He said old museum would be given a face-lift fulfilling the norms of international standard.
“The project has already been approved by the cabinet and internationally acclaimed architect Karna Grover will do the job,” he said.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Modi was addressing the inaugural session of the workshop on “Redesign of Patna Museum” in Patna on September 23, 2009.

Tributes paid to Dinkar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister SK Modi paid tributes to Rashtriya Kavi Ram Dhari Singh Dinkar at a state function in Patna on September 23, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

"Believers Church Literacy Book" released

Bihar Legislative Assembly speaker Uday Narain Chowdhary released "Believers Church Literacy Book" in Patna on September 23, 2009.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui