Prices touching the sky, Durga Puja committees cut costs

GURGAON: At a time when the common man is reeling under the impact of ever rising prices and surging inflation, the city's Durga Puja committees are doing their best to make the occasion a success by resorting to a number of cost cutting measures.
"Donations this year are much less compared to last year's. We had a budget of Rs 24 lakh last year but it's only Rs 16 lakh this time. Though we are facing a tough time because of inflation and rising prices of commodities, we are hopeful of getting the residents' whole hearted support," said Prabhat Ghatak, general secretary of Sahasrabdi Durga Puja committee of South City I.

Gurgaon has over 100 Durga Puja pandals spread across the city.
"We are trying to keep within our budget of Rs 16 lakh. Earlier we used to hire caterers for preparing traditional food and delicacies, but this time all of it prepared by us. Pandal decoration has been kept simple yet attractive . This time our pandal's theme is 'Banedi Badi'- where we are trying to recreate old royal families who used to celebrate puja at their houses," said Atin Chattopadhyay, president of Bangiya Parishad in Sector 56.
The rising inflation has led to a steep increase in prices of essential commodities, pushing the vendor rates. "We have taken several cost cutting measures as there is at least 10-15% rise in the rate of vendors from which we procure tents and other items for the puja. We had to bargain with them hard," said Abhijit Banerjee, president, Gurgaon Durga puja committee in Sector 4.
Most Durga Puja committees this time have invited artistes from Kolkata instead of Mumbai. "This time artistes from Kolkata will give Bengali cultural performances. We have a traditional community puja by the residents of DLF areas," said Probir Das, general secretary of DLF City Durga Puja committee having a budget of Rs 32 lakh.
A good amount of puja committees' money goes into putting proper security arrangements in place at puja pandals. "Expecting a huge footfall as every year, we have barricaded the entire F Block market area. We have employed adequate security personnel besides a number of volunteers," said Malay Banerjee, general secretary Dakshin Gurgaon Durga Puja committee in South City II.
Massive puja preparations are on in Sushnat Lok Block C and Palam Vihar, with a slew of cultural programmes.
Tight security for the Goddess
Metal detectors at entrance gates of pandals
Some pandals in the city's upscale areas have even installed CCTV cameras
Private security personnel
Volunteers with ID cards and badges
Duration of cultural evenings reduced for security reasons