Durga-puja festivities have reached a new crescendo at Silchar in Assam. After two years of pandemic followed by a devastating year of two successive floods, Durgapuja is back as the biggest festival in the Barak valley of South Assam. The people have started celebrating even before Panchami, whereas the formal worship starts only from the Sasthi, which is the sixth day after Mahalaya, which is today.<br />'' <br />'' Durgapuja has a history of more than four centuries in Barak Valley, which was earlier a part of the Cachari Kingdom as well as Bengal till 1874.<br />'' Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma himself would come down to Barak Valley tomorrow to take part in the festivities of Cachar and Hilakandi.<br />'' The deity of Durga is often seen here even in several tribal incarnations as well. The Dimasa, Manipuri, Bishnupriya, Rongmai Naga, and other tribes of Barak Valley adopted the deity of Durga adorning her with their own tribal attires.<br />''  <br />'' On the day of Dussera, river Kushiyara by the side of Karimganj, which is also the border between India and Bangladesh, get numerous boats with idols from both sides of the border for immersing the Durga idols at the mid-river, people of both side irrespective of their religion get affected with a sad nostalgia.  <br />'' After all, it will be one more year for the Devi to come again.