Preparations intensified for Anga region festival
The Bhagalpur district administration has intensified security and civic arrangements ahead of the three-day Bihula-Bishahari Puja, set to be observed from August 17 to 19. Peace committee meetings were held at Samiksha Bhawan and at various police station levels on Sunday to review arrangements for law-and-order, crowd management and public safety, officials said.
Authorities discussed a wide range of measures, including traffic arrangements, procession routes, electrical safety, sanitation and firefighting. Coordination between local puja committees and administration teams was emphasised to ensure orderly conduct of rituals and events across the city and adjoining areas during the festival, which is a major observance in the Anga region that covers Bhagalpur, Munger and nearby districts.
"Senior police officers, station house officers and personnel have been directed to maintain peace during the festival," said Bhagalpur SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav. "Drones and CCTV cameras will be used for surveillance, and magistrates and static police forces will be deployed in sensitive areas."
The festival coincides this year with Nag Panchami and the third Monday of Shrawan, increasing the likelihood of larger gatherings at temples and riverbank worship sites. Devotees will perform traditional rituals such as offering daliya — bamboo baskets — and organising processions, folk performances and cultural programmes rooted in Bihula-Bishahari folklore. Snake worship and related rituals are also a key part of observance, drawing devotees to neighbourhood shrines and community events.
- Dates: August 17–19 (three days)
- Main priorities: crowd control, traffic flow, electrical and fire safety, sanitation
- Security measures: drones, CCTV surveillance, static police deployment, evening flag marches
Police patrolling will be intensified under the supervision of SHOs, with planned flag marches in the evenings to deter disturbance and reassure residents. Magistrates will monitor sensitive localities while static police posts are to be maintained at key worship and procession points, the SSP said.
| Area of focus | Action planned |
|---|---|
| Crowd management | Review of procession routes; deployment of personnel at temples |
| Surveillance | Use of drones and CCTV cameras |
| Traffic | Traffic arrangement plans and diversions at busy spots |
| Safety | Checks on electrical wiring, sanitation and firefighting readiness |
Local puja committees have also rolled out their own initiatives. One named campaign, "Har ek deep Mata Bihula ke naam", urges residents to light lamps at home entrances as a mark of devotion during the festival days. Administration officials have asked puja organisers and residents to follow guidelines and maintain social harmony while observing rituals.
Senior district officials directed staff to complete preparatory tasks in good time to avoid last-minute lapses that could affect public safety or traffic movement. The review meetings at police-station level were aimed at ensuring field-level clarity on roles, deployment schedules and emergency response mechanisms.
The convergence of a major regional festival with Nag Panchami typically draws devotees from villages and towns across the Anga region. That increases pressure on municipal services at ghats, roads near temples and markets. Officials in Bhagalpur noted the need for close coordination between police, civic agencies and volunteer puja committees to keep processions orderly and protect both worshippers and passers-by.
Residents planning to attend local puja events were asked to follow directions from police and volunteers, use designated routes for processions and cooperate with traffic arrangements to ensure smooth movement. The administration reiterated that measures such as drone surveillance and evening flag marches are precautionary steps intended to maintain peace during the important religious observance.
As the festival approaches, district teams are expected to issue detailed advisories for specific localities and procession timings so that citizens can plan travel and participation without disruption.
