Where women take charge of Durga Puja celebrations

Ranchi, Oct 7 (IANS) An all-women Durga Puja celebration has entered the 15th year in Jharkhand's Dhanbad city.

The Sarvajanik Durga Puja Committee, formed by 37 women in 1993, has been celebrating the festival without the support of men for the last 15 years. The women belong to Srinagar colony in Dhanbad, 240 km from Ranchi.

The women raise funds and also perform prayers and other rituals.

'We had decided that there will be no male member in the committee and each and everything will be organised by women,' said Seema, president of the committee.

'We feel proud that women are organising Durga Puja for so many years,' said K.B. Mishra, a resident of Dhanbad.