Bengalis Pray For Peace In Unison

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Kolkata, Mar 21 (UNI) Bengalis, irrespective of their religious and political affiliation, are now praying for an august '' 1414,'' (Bengali New Year), commencing from April 15, as disasters like Nandigram massacre and Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer's 'suspicious' death in Kingston wretched them during the last week.

A week after the '' Black Wednesday,'' special prayers were organised in the temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras spread across the city and its outskirts, where devotees in large numbers were thronging to pray to the Almighty to save them from such calamities in the days to come.

Long queues were noticed in front of the ''Places of Gods'' like Kalighat and Dakshineswar temples with people waiting for chance for making their fervent appeal to save them from disasters and offering prayer in this regard.

According to reports, prices of flowers and other puja offerings have also increased due to this mass ''appeal to All powerful'' but it could not prevent the people of this cultural capital of the country from offering their prayers for ''restoration of peace'' as they were not hesitant at all.

The security has also been tightened in such places where people from all walks of life have assembled to offer prayers.

At least 14 people were killed and 71 injured in Nandigram in East Midnapore, about 15O km of southwest of Kolkata on March 14 after police opened fire to quell villagers and retake control of the area.

Passing away of Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer in Kingston on March 18 also jolted the sports fraternity of the '' City of Joy'' as a devotee, in front of the Kalighat temple observed '' in the death of Bob Woolmer, it was proved that life and cricket is synonymous.'' Incidentally, Woolmer, who was born in Kanpur, also had a connection with Kolkata where his father Charles was posted for a number of years.