Celebrate Durga pooja in Bengali style

HYDERABAD: The stage is all set for the grand Durga Puja celebrations in the city as various Bengali associations toil towards bringing in the flavour and festivities of from the land of the goddess.

Celebrating good over evil, the puja rituals and cultural performances that form a major part of the celebrations attract large number of devotees every year over five days ' from Panchami (Wednesday) to Vijaya Dashami (Monday).

The Hyderabad Bangalee Samity (HBS), established in 1942 and also one of the oldest and parent Benagli organisations in the twin cities, has informed that the Durga Puja idol has been made by the world famous artists from Kumartuli in Kolkata and has the traditional touch of the authentic 'ek challer Thakur' which means that the all dieties will be installed under one umbrella or on the same platform.

Innovative pandal designs and different forms of the idol will be a part of the celebrations as much as the worshippers turning out in their finest.

While Alpona (Rangoli) competition and traditional events such as Shonkho-dhwani and Ulu-dhwani (conch blowing) are an integral part of the celebrations, other events are also being lined up.

'We are starting with the Ananda mela (joyous fair) on October 9. As a part of the cultural programmes, we have Mimicry night on 10th, musical night with Aratika on 11th, Babui folk band with Parama Banerjee performing on October 12, and a musical night with Zee Sa Re Ga Ma artists on 13th,' said Ashok Sen, media coordinator, Hyderabad Bengalee Samity. On the last day of puja, prizes will be distributed to the winners.

Talking about the importance of the festivities, Sunayana Biswas, a corporate employee, says that this is the time for those in the city who are away from their homes in Bengal, get spend with their fellow community members and enjoy a sense of togetherness.

'This is that part of the year when we hope to spend sometime with close relatives and family because on an otherwise busy schedule, it is really impossible to keep track of all. And this year, with the pooja falling on the weekend, it makes it an even more joyous occasion.'

This year, the city's Bangiya Sanskritik Sangha (BSS), has organised a puja pandal in the shape of the Kedarnath shrine in memory of those who lost their lives in the Uttarakhand natural calamity.

'We've been in the city for 48 years old now and receive a footfall of about 50,000 every day during puja. So, to connect more to Hyderabad, we decided to have a Kedarnath Shrine for the Durga pandal,' said Atin Chaudhury of BSS.

As they do every year, BSS will be organising a day-and-night long fair. 'We have 45 corporate stalls and 40 food stalls which would serve spicy Bengali delicacies.

During the day, we will be offering 'bhog' to everyone free of cost,' added Chaudhury. The events by the HBS will take place at the Pingle Venkatarama Reddy Hall at Lower Tank Bund while those by BSS at the Keyes Girl's High school, Secunderabad.