Beats of dhak, sumptuous bhog and pandal-hopping to mark Durga Puja celebrations

Pune: After a year's wait, Durga Puja is finally here. At pandals across the city, Goddess Durga will be invoked on Saturday, Panchami, to descend from her heavenly abode and bless her devotees. Bengali associations in the city have dedicated weeks to preparations, ensuring visitors can look forward to seamless pandal-hopping, hearty festival meals, and a rich array of performances. For Pune's Bengali diaspora, it's the most awaited time of the year, and for the entire city, it's a warm invitation to immerse in a vibrant cultural experience and camaraderie. At Bhosle Garden Corporation Ground in Hadapsar, the Poona Bango Sanmilani and Puneswari Kalibari Saminity will host their 23rd Purbo Poona Sarbajanin Durgotsav from Sept 27 to Oct 2. "We follow all traditional rituals, including Devi Bodhan, Kalparambha, Nabapatrika, Sandhi Puja, Ashtami Puja, and Navami Puja, culminating in sindoor khela and Devi visarjan," said president Pritish Dutta. "Additional celebrations such as Lakshmi Puja and Shyama Puja will keep the spirit alive well into Oct, concluding with the grand Kali Puja." In Baner, Aagomoni Prabasi Sangha is preparing for one of the city's largest gatherings at Gyandeep Mangal Karyalaya. Their impressive idol this year measures 25 feet wide and 14 feet high, flanked by familiar deities of Ganesh, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kartik. An evening food festival, "Anondomela", will serve authentic Bengali dishes, while cultural nights will feature everything from dandiya and garba to concerts by visiting artists. Bengali playback singer Adrija Chakraborty will perform on Sept 29, followed by Bollywood singer Vipin Sachdeva on Sept 30, and Sapna Awasthi of "Chaiyya Chaiyya" fame on Oct 1. "We expect more than 2 lakh visitors over six days and will serve bhog to approximately 25,000 devotees," said association president Rajesh Burman. He added, "We have a lawn capacity for 3,000 people at a time and parking for 700 cars, with a backup plan to move dandiya indoors if it rains. Plenty of stalls selling food, saris, jewellery, and crafts will keep visitors engaged between rituals and performances." The Anandam Association in Wanowari marks 21 years of its Durga Puja at Alankaran Hall, SRPF Group 2, from Sept 27 to Oct 2. Over 10,000 visitors are expected daily for a programme that beautifully blends devotion with art. "This heartfelt celebration represents months of practice by association members and their families. It's a true homage to the festival's spirit, weaving art and culture into devotion, and giving the younger generation a chance to experience their heritage," said association president Amitava Saha. "Community celebrations like these help newcomers overcome the social isolation a big city can bring and create a home away from home," he said. The cultural highlights include Rabindrasangeet by vocalist Chalormi Chattopadhyay, a dance drama on Shiva and Parvati, a theatrical performance of Tagore's 'The Lotus', and a musical tribute to Salil Chowdhury and Lata Mangeshkar, concluding with a concert by Kolkata's folk band Dohar. The Saptapadi Cultural and Sports Association will host the grand Sharadiya Durga Puja at Safa Banquets on Balewadi High Street. Themed "Heritage Meets Harmony," this five-day festival, which kicks off on Sept 27, promises to blend age-old Bengali traditions with a modern spirit of unity. Daily rituals will be complemented by cultural programmes, exhibitions, a diverse food court, and socially relevant events focused on environmental awareness. "Durga Puja is not only about devotion but also reflects social harmony, unity, and cultural heritage," said president Sanjay Biswas. General secretaries Sneha and Soumitra Kundu added, "This celebration will combine rituals with performances and the delight of traditional Bengali cuisine while welcoming people of all communities. The eco-friendly idol and Rabindrasangeet performances will anchor a festival designed to be both inclusive and meaningful."