Anup Dutta

Probashi Benaglis in Pune all set to celebrate Basanti Durga Pujo in Khadki Kali Bari.

Sahafat Ahbab FC stunned Indian Air Force 1-0, while G4S-Hindustan FC defeated City FC with an identical scoreline in the Delhi Soccer Association Senior Division League Championship.

Get to know the Bengali community in Pune as they gear up for their biggest and grandest festival of Durga Puja. It isn’t a festival but a joyride of emotions for any Bengali. So, how are the Pune-residing Bengalis planning to welcome Durga maa and celebrate her in all her glory?

The Sealdah sessions court has criticized the Kolkata police, particularly officers from Tala police station, for inefficiencies and mishandling in the investigation of a resident doctor's rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College in August last year. Judge Anirban Das pointed out several lapses and urged the police commissioner to address the officers' negligent behavior.

Pune is gearing up for Durga Puja with over 70 puja pandals this year, up from 56 last year. Themed decor at various locations includes replicas of famous landmarks and movie sets. Cultural events, bhog distribution, and pandal hopping are part of the celebrations.

Durga Puja pandals across the city have hosted a variety of cultural programmes during the Durgotsav. While the dominant flavour has been traditional Bengali — with many pandals getting artists from Kolkata to enthrall audiences here — there has also been a pleasant infusion of Marathi seasoning to the cultural menu this year.

Pune Kali Bari Association general secretary anup dutta vividly remembers the ordeal the community members had to go through almost 40 years ago as they had to source the Durga idol all the way from West Bengal.

A college excursion turned to tragedy on Sunday evening when a jeep collided with a truck, killing a professor and injuring another teacher and six students.

During Durgotsav, pandals across the city are highlighting some unique themes through their choice of decoration.

Human organs are on sale. The fact was further augmented on Thursday with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) arresting two persons - Animesh Biswas and Binay Yadav - for allegedly luring an elderly woman, Avarani Das from Budbud in Burdwan, in acute financial distress to sell her kidney.

Tekela Gaon, which was renamed 'Desai Nagar' in memory of the 1977 incident, is a remote village 16 km from Jorhat town.Over 80% of the population in this village are farmers.

Pune is set to host over 60 vibrant Durga Pujos this year, showcasing diverse themes from Ayodhya's Ram Mandir to 'Grammo'. Organizers are prioritising eco-friendly idols, with some featuring the city's largest Durga Maa. Expect grand cultural events, authentic Bengali cuisine, handicrafts from Santiniketan, and even pet-friendly pandals, promising an inclusive and spectacular festive celebration for everyone.

As Diwali fervour grips the city, here’s a look at the most popular Kali Puja pandals in town.

Sanjay Roy is currently the only suspect in the rape and murder case of an RG Kar Hospital doctor. Despite his claims of being framed, DNA evidence and CCTV footage implicate him. The CBI has questioned nearly 100 witnesses and performed multiple polygraph tests as part of their investigation, while awaiting final forensic reports from AIIMS Delhi.

The Pune Kalibari and the Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad, who were the first to begin Durga puja celebrations in the city, are hosting their platinum jubilee this year.

It is festive time in the city once again with major celebrations planned by the Malayali and Bengali communities on Tuesday, the beginning of the new year for both the communities.

Durga Puja began in the city on Monday with festivities and the associated events being scaled down for the second consecutive year because of the pandemic. Organizers and devotees celebrating the autumnal festival modified their plans by opting for online streaming of the puja, parcel delivery of “bhog” (tradional food offered to the deity) and streamlined “darshan” in adherence with the Covid rules.