AGARTALA, Oct 14 (TIWN): With Durga Puja only two weeks away, the Bengali associations are all set to ring in the festivities.

In most of the major clubs preparations has begun about months prior to the actual Puja dates, wherein the design and significance of the Pandal and idol is conceptualised.

The pandal construction at most pujas are going on full swing, it is almost complete just the finishing left. Pandals were being lighted with various colours of bulbs to make the celebration colourful and attractive.

While the construction of the Pandal is in full swing, the idols are also being created about 2 months or more before the celebrations.  Major clubs import artisans and idol makers are specially from West Bengal to sculpt the stunningly beautiful and majestic idols of Maa Durga and her four children in their diverse, colourful, some traditional and some very modern avatars.

Despite of price rise in all the commodities, and after the rain has disrupted in the Puja preparation the people are still working enthusiastically to meet the dead line.

About a week left for the Puja celebration, the Puja Committees begins the actual cultural celebrations with the Cultural Competitions.

Mahalaya is the beginning of Devi Paksha, which marks the end of Shradh and beginning of Navratra,and heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power. According to mythology, on occasion of Mahalaya sets the stage for Goddess Durga to leave her abode in Kailash and make her annual trip to her paternal home on earth.

The occasion of Mahalaya ushers in the Durga Puja festivity and the countdown for the week-long fiesta begins on this day.

However, glamour of durga puja shopping is back. People are going for the latest designs and fashion. All most all the shops and the shopping mall are block with customers. While the housewives are busy getting their favourite anarkalis stitched the teenagers are going over the fresh stock of tunics brought new for the stock.