Pune's Bengalis gear up for Durga Puja

With one of the most awaited and colourful festival of the year, Durga Puja, various Bengali associations in the city are gearing up to celebrate the festival with traditional fervour and gaiety.
The puja starts on October 2 (Sasthi) and immersion of the idols would take place on October 6 (Dashami).

Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad, one of the biggest associations of the Bengali community in the city, would organise Durga Puja and programmes at Congress Bhavan. Musical programmes, quizzes and other programmes would begin on October 1 and continue till Dashami.

The general secretary of the association, Rajesh Burman told DNA, "We have Anandmela, a food festival on the first day. We have also organised musical evening, dramas and special performances. One of the major attractions is the sound and music show with LCD projection that will be held on Dashami by artistes from Hyderabad."

The Anandam Association Sarbojonin Durgotsav of Salunke Vihar will also start their programme from October 1 with Anandmela and will end on Dashami. Madhumita Ghosh, the cultural secretary of Durgotsav said, "We have programmes for all age groups, right from children to senior citizens and also a variety of performances by different people."

This includes drawing competition for children, a programme based on Tagore songs, dramas and competition for men, women and senior citizens. The Dashami puja of Anandam will commence at 10 am. Bhog will be served between 12.30 to 3 pm daily. All the events would be held next to ABC Farms, on Salunke Vihar Road.

Similarly, the Sarbojonin Durgotsav, Kalyaninagar, has also organised a variety of competitions and special programmes for children, adolescents, adults as well as senior citizens.

Prabhat Mukherjee, a member of the association said, "We also have special performances and programmes for everyone, right from song presentations to art exhibition. All the programmes will take place starting from Saturday at Rohivilla Palace, Lane Number 7, Kalyaninagar.

Subir Gupta, general secretary of Kalibari Samiti Pune, Khadki's Durga Puja committee, informed DNA, "We have many cultural programmes lined up for all days of the festival.

The inauguration of the puja will take place on Sunday. The daily pujas starting from Saptami will being at 8.30 am everyday." The other attraction is the various stalls set up near the Kali temple in Khadki. On Dashami, there will be a special orchestra for entertainment of all devotees.