The Bengali community is apprehensive about the Commonwealth Games jeopardising their celebration plans for Durga Puja which happens to coincide with the sporting event.
Even as civic officials race against time to spruce up the national capital in time for the Commonwealth Games, the Bengali community here is apprehensive about the event jeopardising their celebration plans for Durga Puja which happens to coincide with the sporting event.
The biggest festival of the Bengalis starts on October 14, the last day of the Games extravaganza, which commences on October 3.
There has already been reports that the administration has asked organisers of Durga Puja in various parts of the city to keep it low key. However, organisers say they have not been handed over any formal guidelines and there is also a possibility that some organisers would not be allowed to host the Puja this time.
"Things will be clear only after a meeting with the administration...so far I've not attended any such meetings", says Swapan Ganguly, an official of the New Delhi Kali Bari, one of the oldest Durga Puja organisers in the city and the nodal point for hundreds of Puja committees here.
In Delhi, there are approximately 400 registered committees which celebrate pujas in various parts of the city, specially in Bengali dominated areas like Chittaranjan Park.
Some of the big puja organisers are making their plans and programme schedules keeping in mind the Games.
Karol Bagh Puja Samiti that usually organise cultural function bringing artists from Kolkata from 'Pachami'(that is three days before the Puja begins, on October 12 this year) onwards, this time is planning to host function only after the Commonwealth Games is over.
"We are asked keep it low profile as police are facing problem to provide security... We hope the celebration will be normal from 'Ashtami' onwards after the Games ends on October 14", says Abhijit Mitra, General Secretary of Karol Bagh Puja Samiti.
"We are ready to cooperate with the Delhi Government to maintain law and order and they have assured us to strike a balance a between Puja and Commonwealth Games", adds Mitra.
However, young people seems to really anxious about the fact that the Commonwealth Games may put a roadblock in their usual Durga Puja celebrations.
"We all Bengalis wait for these four days to come throughout the year...and this time all are saying we are having a low profile Puja here. How can a Durga Puja be low profile?", says Soham Chowdhury, a collegiate.
Also, there are others who plan to visit Kolkata during the festival.
"I love to spend the Puja days here with all my friends.. but this year I am planning to spend the Puja in Kolkata as many of my friends are also doing the same", says Tapas Ray, a resident of Saatnagar in West Delhi.
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