Pune: The city’s Bengali community is set to transform Durga Puja pandals into lively meeting grounds for rituals, music, theatre, traditional food, and neighbourhood celebrations as festivities begin on Thursday with Panchami. From live bhog preparations and Kolkata-style lighting to dance competitions and performances by young artistes, the celebrations will bring Bengalis and visitors from other communities together over the coming days.At one of Pune’s oldest and most popular Durga Puja pandals, Congress Bhavan, the festivities will begin on Thursday with the arrival of the Goddess Durga idol, followed by an Anandomela and days of rituals, bhog, and cultural performances. This year, the pandal, organised by Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad, features a replica of the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha. The pandal is designed by artisans from Kolkata. The idol has a dusky complexion and is adorned with bright golden ornaments.The organisers are also prioritising food safety, ensuring that food stalls adhere to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards and getting the drinking water tested and certified.“We want to offer devotees something distinctive this year. Artists from Kolkata, along with performers from Pune and Mumbai, will be part of the celebrations,” said Anupam Kashyapi, chairperson of the puja committee.“The pandal will also host its all-gender sindoor khela, a tradition it has followed for the past three years. The dhakis, meanwhile, are expected to arrive a day late because of a train delay,” he said.At Alankaran Hall in Wanowrie, Anandam Association will host a series of cultural programmes, beginning with Anondomela, its food festival, and an open-house music session on Thursday. The line-up includes Bengali theatre, choir performances, Bharatanatyam, a dhunuchi dance competition, alpona and conch-blowing contests, besides sindoor khela and activities for children and senior citizens.“Over the past 22 years, Anandam has grown steadily, welcoming an increasing number of visitors every year. We want to bring people from diverse backgrounds together through Bengali traditions, music, dance and theatre,” said Amitava Saha, president of Anandam Association.At Sant Tukaram Hall in Wakad, Amader Barir Pujo is preparing for its third year of celebrations. The organisers expect 1,200 to 1,500 visitors daily and have kept the event open to everyone, without a membership fee. The idol is expected to arrive around 1pm on Thursday, while the unveiling of “Mayer mukh”, or the face of the idol, is scheduled for Friday morning.“We wanted to recreate the feeling of a family’s home puja for people living away from West Bengal. There will be no VIP treatment; everyone joins the queue and participates in the puja,” said Amit Chatterjee.The pandal will feature traditional Chandannagar lighting, while bhog will be prepared live by cooks brought from Kolkata using ingredients procured from the city. Local Bengali businesses will also set up food stalls.At Hinjewadi Phase 2, Oitijhyo Sarbojonin Durga Puja will make its debut with a ‘Nari Shakti’ theme, placing women at the centre of its celebrations. The organisers will bring the idol from Khadki, with bodhon rituals planned for Thursday evening ahead of Shashti celebrations on Friday. Food stalls and bhog prepared on the premises will complement traditional community activities.“We wanted to bring Bengali families in Hinjewadi together and recreate the cultural experience of Kolkata, with competitions such as alpona and dhunuchi dance. There has been no Durga Puja nearby, at least within a 4km radius, and we hope this becomes a gathering place for the community,” said Sumeet Das, a member of the managing committee.At Rohi Villa Palace in Koregaon Park, Nandanik Sanstha will begin its celebrations on Oct 16, continuing a 23-year tradition. Rituals, bhog distribution, cultural performances and charitable initiatives form the four pillars of its festivities. This year’s programme will also mark the birth centenary of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar.“We want devotees, whether Bengali or non-Bengali, to experience an authentic, ritualistic puja. Our cultural programmes also provide a platform for local artistes and entrepreneurs, turning the pandal into a carnival of music, dance, drama, literature and food,” said Sandip Mukherjee, president of Nandanik Sanstha.
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