Puja pandals all set for Durgotsav festivities

PUNE: It is often said that Bengalis start the new calendar by earmarking Durga puja dates. Everything else can wait. With Durgotsav round the corner, the excitement among the 'probashi Bangali' (Bengalis who have settled outside West Bengal) circuit as well as non-Bengalis is palpable. A peep into what's in store for the festive enthusiasts this year.
Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad, Congress Bhavan
It's the 75th year of the Congress Bhavan puja this time.Week-long festivities, beginning September 27, will mark the diamond jubilee year of one of Pune's oldest sarvajanik Durgotsav. Drama, dance and musical programmes by Samsad members will be complimented by performances by Kolkata-based artistes. Baul (Bengali folk) songs will be an added attraction. Unlike other puja mandals, the Congress Bhavan will have its immersion on October 5, a day after other mandals immerse the idols.
Khadki Kali Bari
Khadki, Near Ayappa temple
Any city with a sizeable Bengali population will definitely have a 'Kalibari' (temple dedicated to Goddess Kali). The Pune Kalibari authorities claim they were the first to have a Durga puja in Pune in 1939. This year, they too will be celebrating their 75th year. To make it special, they have called special artisans from Kolkata and Chandannagar to design the pandal and put up decorative lights. In addition to Kolkata artistes, they also plan to have a ballet troupe from Varanasi.
Amantran
Sakshi Garden, B T Kawade Road
Amantram is celebrating its sixth Durgotsav this year. To add an authentic touch to the festivities, they have commissioned the idol on lines of ones made in Kolkata. They have also roped in a Kolkata chef to prepare the 'bhog' (the food that is enjoyed by hundreds in the afternoon during the ongoing puja). They would also have Kolkata-based artistes along with their club members putting up cultural shows.
Anandam
Lane between ABC Farms & Manpasand Sweets, Salunke Vihar Road
Anandam is celebrating its 11th year. Like most mandals in the city, their festivities would begin with 'Anandomela'. On the following days, they would have countless cultural shows - both in-house and also those put up by Kolkata-based artistes. With an aim to involve one and all, they plan to have a 'talent show' across all age-groups.
Bangiya Samsad, Ahmednagar Road
Anand Vidya Niketan (near Joggers Park), Vimannagar
Marking their 10th year, the Bangiya Samsad has decided on a different kind of decor for their pandal this year. The theme will be the Goddess' weapons. The pandal will be decorated with replicas of weapons that the Goddess uses. Besides, they also plan to host a Bengali book fair.
Nandanik
Rohi Villa, Lane 7,
Koregaon Park
On their 11th outing, Nandanik would have the usual 'Anandomela' (wherein club members set up stalls of home-cooked delicacies and the proceeds go to the club). Keeping with the trend that began last year, Nandanik will pay homage to cine legends in an audio-visual section titled 'Celebrating great masters'. This year, they would be focusing on filmmakers Satyajit Ray and Tapan Sinha and actor Suchitra Sen.
Armed Forces Medical College
AFMC Grounds, Wanowrie
The AFMC has been organising Durga puja for more than 50 years now. The puja has its origin at the Khadki ammunition factory. It shifted twice before finally settling down at its present location. Comprising five Army hospitals from Pune, it is the only Bengali puja in Pune Cantonment limits. Witnessing a healthy participation from patients, medical students, resident doctors and faculties, it hosts 4,000-5,000 people every day, who partake of the 'bhog'.
Paschim Poona
Aundh
This is the association's 11th year of the Durga puja. Besides the routine rituals and delicacies, the organizers have planned special dance-drama recitals on Rabindra Sangeet along with works of celebrated Bengali poet-writer-musician Kazi Nazrul Islam. The pandal will be decorated by Kolkata-style thermocol cuttings, whereas the Durga idol will be decorated with the traditional daaker-saaj, an artwork with aluminium foil and sequins.
Bengalee
Association
Siddhi Garden, Erandwane, near Mhatre Bridge
The association has completed 33 years. The celebrations will begin with a 'Milan Mela' on September 29 where club members will set up stalls of homemade delicacies followed by various cultural programmes for the next few days. This year, the organizers have planned events like Durga Bandana, a Bharatnatyam-based dance recital, Shera Ginni, a competition for women, Conch shell-blowing and Uludwani competitions among others.
Poona Bango
Sanmilani
Hadapsar
This is the 12th Durga Puja celebration for the association. The organizers have decided to bring in the 20ft-high Durga idol early. The idol will be kept for seven days. Kolkata-based Dhaaki (drummers) and priests will participate. The association has sourced material from Kolkata for decorating the pandal.
Banga Bharati
Telco Road, Pimpri
The association is hosting its 29th Durga puja this time. The organizers have got Kolkata-based artistes for their cultural programmes. While the pandal is being set up by local decorators, people from Kolkata have been hired to prepare special bhog and Bengali sweets.
Biswa Bharati
Apte Colony, Bhosari
In its sixth year, the organizers have planned a simple traditional puja and cultural festivities. The members will donate clothes, old books and other materials, which will be collected and sent to a city-based NGO later.
Oikyotan Bangiya Parishad
Kapse Lawns, Pimple
Saudagar
This is the third year of the Durga Puja celebrations for the association. The organizers have engaged the services of Kolkata-based dhaakis for the rituals along with cooks to prepare bhog and sweets. A priest from Tarapith, a temple in Birbhum district of West Bengal, has been invited for 'chandipath', a religious text describing the victory of goddess Durga over Mahishasura.
Vidyapati Mitra Mandal
Bhosari
This group of 600-odd Biharis, who now call Pune their home, have been celebrating the festival for over 10 years now. Beginning with 'ghatasthapana', 'aartis' and 'prasad' mark Durgotsav here.