Miles away from hometown, Durga Puja is celebrated with equal fervour in downtown Mumbai. Check out two of the most popular pujas.
In 1930 as a train from Varanasi trudged towards Mumbai carrying the precious idol, a handful of members waited at the station with baited breath. It had not mattered to them that there were no local idol makers or that most of the puja samagri would not be available locally and would have to be brought all the way from Kolkata. They were simply determined to celebrate their own Durga Puja. Thus, they celebrated at Hindustan Compound near Grant Road railway station.
This was the humble origin of the now elite and well-known Bombay Durgabari Samiti. By 1940, the club had sufficient funds to formally establish the Bombay Durga Bari Samiti, which gradually expanded to include the Fort area as well. With each passing year, the samiti continued to achieve various milestones and its growing popularity continued to bring thousands of devotees to the puja pandal every year. The number of members swelled enormously, necessitating the shifting of the venue first to the much bigger Azad Maidan and then to Cross Maidan. Finally, in 1971 it was shifted to Tejpal Hall at August Kranti Marg, earlier known as Gowalia tank. This place which has now become synonymous with Durga Puja for Bengali residents of south Mumbai.
“The venue of our Durga Puja kept changing till the last 30 to 35 years. Now it is always celebrated at the Tejpal Auditorium,” said Sunil Kumar Raha, one of the organisers. “In recent times, one of our main objectives is not only to bring all Bengalis together for the Sharadotsav, but also bring together Mumbaikars of all castes, communities, religions, and professions in the spirit of national Integration,” Raha added.
This samiti has always worked towards promoting Bengali art and culture, which is evident in the array of cultural activites and programmes lined up every year during Durga Puja. Sushmita Mitra, the chairman of the social and cultural committee, says, “This year we have planned to bring 70 inmates from the correctional home in West Bengal to perform Mokshgati, a dance drama that has been conceptualised and directed by celebrated dancer Alokananda Roy. In 2011 also, we had performed with inmates and it had been a huge success. It is a play based on the life of Ashoka–how he changed from a cruel and a ruthless ruler to a pacifist and converted to Buddhism after the conquest of Kalinga. We will also have a Bengali play called Dil Daria.
This drama is very special because it will be produced and presented by the members of the Durga Bari Samiti itself. After the play, we have a special musical evening by the well known Bengali singer, Saptak Bhattacharya,” said Mitra. Students of Prangan, a 30-year-old Tagore music school, will perform a dance drama called Ogo Pathero Saathi. “On the last day of the puja, Bharatnatyam will be performed in front of the goddess, followed by the dhunuchi naach, which will again be performed by the members of the samiti.
Bengal Club
Another well-known downtown Durga Puja is the one celebrated by the Bengal Club at Shivaji Park. They will be celebrating their 78th Durga Puja. People from all over Mumbai visit this puja.
Around 25000-27000 people come to have bhog there on Maha Saptami, Maha Asthami and Maha Navami. This time they expect around 35000 people to have the Maha Navami bhog.
The devi mandap will be made on the lines of the famous terracotta temple of Bishnupur in West Bengal. Artisans will be coming all the way from Shantiniketan to make the devi mandap. 3.5 lakhs tiles were specially handcrafted by a young sculptor from Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan and carefully transported to Mumbai,” said Prasoon Rakshit, convener Press & Media, Bengal Club Durga Puja Committee. In synchronisation with the décor, the Durga idol is also going to be in terracotta style and colour in true rustic form.
On asking what will be the USP for Durga Puja this year, Rakshit replied, “The entire ground will be turned into a mini-Bengal. It is one of the oldest pujas. The club itself is 92 years old and it is the traditional meeting point of most downtown Bengalis during Durga Puja. We have an exhibition centre where artisans from eastern part of India come and showcase their products.”
With Durga Puja just around the corner, all the pandals are doing their best to celebrate Durga Puja the Kolkata way.
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