A massive crowd of devotees gathered in Shahpur town and its surrounding rural areas as the gates of over 20 Durga Puja pandals opened on Saturday for the divine darshan of Maa Durga. In these pandals, the idols of Maa Durga, the goddess of power; Mata Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth; Mata Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge; Shri Ganesha, the deity of wisdom and prosperity; and Shri Kartikeya were unveiled simultaneously with proper rituals and chanting of mantras.

As evening descended, the entire area around the puja pandals in both urban and rural parts lit up with colorful lights. The atmosphere resonated with Vedic chants and devotional songs dedicated to the goddess. To ensure the peaceful conduct of the Dussehra festival, the local administration is on high alert. More than 20 magistrates and police personnel have been deployed at all major squares, intersections, and near the puja pandals to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure devotees can offer their prayers peacefully.