Durga pandals in city to celebrate folk art, culture

NAVI MUMBAI: Durga Puja celebrations in city started on a grand note on Sunday with as many as 300 Bengali women turned up in the traditional white and red sarees at the Cidco exbition hall.
They chanted Durga ‘stotros’ or hymns in praise of Mahishasuramardini.
Navi Mumbai Bengali Association, which is celebrating its 39th Durgotsav, has opted for a bigger venue this year as the organisers are expecting nearly five lakh devotees to turn up at the venue.The theme for the mandap—The Great Bengal Pavillion—will be a major attraction as there will be a grand display of Bengal’s art and culture.
The Durga idol is around 20ft in height and has been made from natural artefacts sourced from Bengal.
“A substantial portion of the revenue generated from the event, through individual donations and corporate sponsorships, will be for used for the “Senior Citizen Living Project” that aims to provide housing for senior citizens who live in this city alone and all by themselves,” said Bivas Maity, the president of the association.
Among the other Durga Puja mandaps in the city, Seawoods Cultural Welfare Association will be highlighting Indian classical art and folk music as part of its tenth year of celebrations. The mandap has been constructed with dried paddy straw and Hogla, a type of leaves found in Bengal, to keep its interiors cool. The association will also be helping disabled children and senior citizens.
Airoli Bengali association’s 80x30x60 feet pandal at NMMC playground in Airoli’s sector 15 has been modelled on percussion instruments.
Bengali Cultural Association, CBD, will be celebrating its 33rd year of Durgapuja and will have performances by children and local artists. Organisers have kept the celebrations low key this year to save money for helping the needy.
Vashi Cultural Association’s 30-feet-high pandal has been modelled on a Bengal village. While the pandal has been made out of straw, bamboo and hay, the Durga idol has been decorated with cane sieve and other handicrafts.
Milan Tirtha has modelled its mandap on a South Indian temple.