MUMBAI: The Bengali community will celebrate the five-day Durga Puja, the biggest festival on the calendar, from Friday. The farther western suburbs from Jogeshwari to Kandivli have a fair share of magnificent Puja events.
The decor of the 59-year-old Kallol Durga Puja in Bangur Nagar, Goregaon, is based on Santiniketan University founded by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. President Ashish Dutta said, “The set is crafted by artist Biddu Bhushan. The adjoining Kali Mandir has been decorated with flowers.” Spokesman Sapan Kumar Mukherjee said, “We serve bhog prasad meals to almost 10,000 people. Evening performances include Aagomoni music and Dhunuchi naach.”
The all-women Ananda Utsav Durga Puja has moved from an indoor hall in Andheri to the open air Trento Lawns in Goregaon West. President Gargi Chattopadhyay said, “National Award-winning actress Rituparna Sengupta, known for depicting strong women characters, is our guest of honour on Saptami. Our theme is nostalgia, so members have re-recorded the song ‘Purano shei diner kotha’ and created a ‘thakurdalan’ for Goddess Durga’s mandap.” Old cameras, books, stationery and pens reflect the theme.
Over at Malad, Maitree Cultural Association’s Durgotsav enters its 10th year at Rajora Banquets, Mindspace. Founder member Subhankar Dutt said, “Our members personally serve daily curated bhog to thousands of people in an AC hall, giving the feel of a classic sit-down feast. Our gorgeous Durga pratima (idol) is made as per the original Bengal village design, and we have great evening shows as well.”
Also in Malad, the Bhoomi Park Durgotsav has derived inspiration from Santiniketan too. Spokesperson Bandana Paul said, “All resources for the Puja are sourced from interior Bengal and Kolkata to ensure authenticity. Around 2,000 people partake of bhog daily. We will host performances by Shaan, Mika and Nakash Aziz. We partner with an NGO, Desire Society, to support children afflicted by AIDS.”
Kandivli is rich with variety. The 10-year-old HRCWA Durgotsav is held at the BMC ground in Thakur Village. Chairman Sudipto Chatterjee said, “Artisans from Bengal have designed our mandap. We will start our celebration with Anandmela where people get homemade food. On October 21, the finalists of our Sangeet Mahotsav will present their singing and dance skills. To commemorate our 10th year, on Ashtami, women and men will wear the same pattern of sari and dhoti kurta. Navami features singer Javed Ali.”
Whispering Palms in Lokhandwala Township, Kandivli East, is the venue of Krishti’s 19th Durga Puja. Spokesman Arindam Dasgupta said the theme reflects an antique Mughal Raj set with a golden touch. “Food stalls, in-house performance of Agomoni songs and dramas are a highlight. Ashtami will feature actor Deepak Parashar and on Navami we have a Bollywood-style show by Kinjal of Sa Re Ga Ma fame. On Dashami there is Bengali folk fusion,” he said. The theme of Thakur Village Bengali Association’s Puja at Evershine Club is based on Satyajit Ray’s film ‘Sonar Kella’. “The idol is ‘dhaker shaaj’ with traditional ‘kulo’ all around,” said spokesman Chinmoy Roy.
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