Durga puja festivities kick off with cultural events

Indore: The Bengali community in the city began Durga Puja celebrations with a series of cultural events designed for school children and the establishment of a grand pandal.

The festivities kicked off with the Anand Mela at the Bengali Club in Navlakha, marking the 96th Sharadotsav. More than 2000 people from the community gathered for the celebration.

The two-day Anand Mela was inaugurated on Monday evening by Dr Shubhashish Banerjee, the joint director of urban and rural development. In attendance were Ashok Mukherjee, the president of Sri Sri Sarbojonin Durga Puja, and Rupesh Pal, the secretary. In his address, Banerjee said, "I admire the Bengali Club's long-standing tradition of celebrating Sharadotsav for the past 95 years, highlighting the community's festive spirit."

As the sun set, the Anand Mela came alive with the aroma of authentic Bengali delicacies being prepared by artisans who travelled from Bengal. Stalls at the event offered an array of mouthwatering dishes, including fish fry, fish cutlets, mochar choop, shrimp curry, mutton curry, chicken curry, and chicken biryani. The delightful scent of Parsee Pies filled the air, enticing visitors to indulge in the culinary offerings.

"We were delighted to celebrate the 96th Sharadotsav and bring together our community to enjoy the rich traditions of Bengali culture. The Anand Mela was a perfect opportunity for families to come together and relish the flavours of Bengal while enjoying cultural performances," said Jayant Nath Chowdhury, the President of the Bengali School and Club.

Ravishankar Roy Chowdhury, vice president of the Club, said, "This celebration not only reflected the rich cultural heritage of the Bengali community but also fostered a sense of togetherness and joy among all attendees as they honoured the revered goddess Durga." TNN


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