Goddess's homecoming

Maa Durga rides in at a turbulent time-bomb blasts, inflation and an economic slowdown in the offing-but the city's 150-odd pandals refuse to give in to the negative vibes.
It's time for elaborate and innovative pandals, beautiful idols, the rustic touch of dhaak beats and bhog (prasad)-a time that every Bengali waits for the entire year.
Pradeep Chakravarty, secretary of the Koparkhairane Bengali Association , says they've made sure that visitors have "full entertainment' ' throughout all the puja days and for that they have brought in singers, stand-up comedians as well as a drama troupe from West Bengal .Noted Bengali singer Pratik Chaudhary will regale the audience with a mix of Bangla numbers and Kishore Kumar songs, while on another evening, the visitors can have a rolling time with Santosh Biswas-Mr Gutli of Bengal Laughter Challenge fame-belting out his funniest punch lines. Popular comedy, Gorur Gaadir Headlight (Cart-puller's Headlight), will take centre-stage on one of the evenings.
Dr Anupam Karmakar, joint secretary of Kalbadevi Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee, which organises the puja at Madhavbaug, C P Tank, says, "We have been celebrating this puja for the past 78 years. This year, our idols will be adorned with ornaments that cost lakhs of rupees. The Goddess will wear diamond earrings and a necklace , gold tikka, diamond nose-ring , and will hols a 6.5-kg silver kalash. The other gods-Durga's children-will also be adorned with silver weapons.'' The magnetic face of the C P Tank idol is such a draw that the organisers have actually patented the mould in which it is cast. The idols have been fashioned from natural elements such as vegetable dye, hay, straw, jute and clay from the Ganga bank.
The Bombay Durgabari Samiti, which organises its puja at Tejpal Hall, has chosen the traditional Bankura craft for decoration. Shampa Banerjee, convener of the decoration committee, says, "This year we have crafts from Bankura, a district in Bengal, to decorate the pandal. The terra-cotta artifacts are very popular back home and the commonest of them all is the horse, which, with its pointed ears, is a standard living-room fixture in Bengali homes.'' The vistors can also gorge on the bhog, which has an array of luchi (puri), labda (mixed vegetables), khichdi and payesh (dessert from rice, milk and sugar).
The latest entrant to the festivity , which already boasts of a rave following of its own, is the Powai Durga Puja at Hiranandani Gardens. Partha Mallik, founder member, says, "Our greatest strength is the backdrop against which we set our idols. The past two years, we've had the replicas of Dakshineswar temple and Lotus Temple, and this year we are recreating the temple where Swami Vivekananda spent the last few years of his life.'' Reality showwinner Aneek Dhar, Kolkata rock band Kaya and singer Alka Yagnik will add wattage to the pandal, which is expecting a footfall of 20,000.
The Khar Ramakrishna Mission has started its puja its own traditional way. Says Swami Vagishananda , president of Bombay Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, "The rites are elaborate and the puja here is performed according to the Vedic rituals . Every day, 5,000 devotees from all communities come to our Math for prasad.'' Swami Bhadreshananda says, "The Devi is embodied in all beings along with the asura shaktis like anger, passion, jealousy, hatred and violence . One must invoke the Devi's grace within us to overcome the evil tendencies. This is the significance of Durga Puja in our lives.''
SHIVAJI PARK DURGA PUJA
History:
The Bengal Club has been organising the grand puja for the last 72 years
USP:
A mini-Bengal is recreated in Shivaji Park every October , with rows of stalls that sell all those items that make the Mumbaikar envy his eastern counterpart. Fish fry, sandesh and handicrafts are brought down from Kolkata. However, for those who do not wish to buy anything and simply come to seek the blessings of the Goddess , the organisers provide a sumptuous afternoon bhog that includes the traditional khichdi and payesh. Swapan Kumar Ghosh, general secretary of the Bombay Sarbajanin Durgotsob Committee, feels spiritually gratified to see urchins, peddlers and the elite all eat together.
As part of the entertainment line-up , the organisers have roped in Kolkata rock band Bhoomi and a local music group, Pancham. Santiniketan stalwart Ramkrishna Baul will sing on Dashami.
LOKHANDWALA COMPLEX, ANDHERI
History:
Six years on, the Lokhandwala Durgotsab organised by Bollywood singer Abhijit has the highest glamour quotient
USP:
"Funds are not a problem. It is us who have corporatised Durga Puja in Mumbai and made it a sought-after brand. So whatever we do has to be the biggest and the best,'' says Abhijit. This is no common boast, you realise, when you see sackfuls of Basmati rice and cans of sunflower oil being unloaded for the afternoon bhog. Anjan Chatterjee, the owner of a chain of restaurants, personally supervises the cooks.
Bollywood art director Bijon Dasgupta has created the puja set inside Lokhandwala Garden. Complementing his efforts, the breathtakingly beautiful idol of the Goddess has been crafted by the son of artisan Nemai Pal. The grand spectacle at Lokhandwala draws about 20,000 visitors each day, of whom 2,000 are invited to the bhog. Shreya Ghoshal and Rabindrasangeet singer Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta performed at the puja on Sunday.
VASHI DURGA PUJA
History:
Since 29 years, the 40,000 sq-m ground outside Vashi station transforms into a pilgrimage spot at this time of year
USP:
Passersby are taken aback by the grand life-size replica of Belur Math that has come up outside Vashi station. Its design amalgamates Hindu, Islamic and Christian architecture.
Asit Ghosh, president of the New Bombay Bengali Association , claims that this is the biggest puja in the country. Any number of people can come for the bhog. "We were worried about supplies running out on Monday as 20,000 people came for lunch,'' laughs Ghosh. "But by Goddess Durga's grace, we managed to satisfy everybody.''
The Bengali Association runs a shelter for cancer patients who visit Tata Memorial Hospital from Bengal. Funds generated during the Puja are utilised for this purpose.
THAKUR VILLAGE IN KANDIVLI
History:
Kandivli acquired its own puja five years ago
USP:
Hardly any Bengali household in Thakur Village cooks at home during the three days of the festival-they all have the bhog at the pandal in Thakur Hall put up by the local Bengali association.
Spokesperson Chinmoy Roy says this year, the organisers have spent Rs 45 lakh. To those who recall the kaash fields from Satyajit Ray's film, the idol will acquire greater meaning. The brilliant white daker shaaj (decoration made of pith) idol derives its look from this white flower.
Kandivli managed to lure Abhijit away from his puja and got him to perform two days ago. Other artistes lined up are Shubhomita, Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta and Alka Yagnik.
SHEETAL NAGAR, MIRA ROAD
History:
The 15-year-old Bengali Welfare Association of Mira Road has a loyal following despite competitors
USP:
Over 1 lakh Bengalis live in Mira Road, says the chairman of the puja committee, Dipankar Bhattacharya, and at least 7,000 of them come for bhog. Biswanath Pal, the son of artisan Nemai Pal, has given the idol a golden colour. Dhaak players from Kolkata entertain the crowds every evening, while the samiti members perform the dhunuchi dance.