Community clubs spend dizzying amounts to capture splendour and joy of 4-day celebration; Bengalis throng pandals dressed in traditional sari and dhuti-panjabi
Community clubs spend dizzying amounts to capture splendour and joy of 4-day celebration; Bengalis throng pandals dressed in traditional sari and dhuti-panjabiu00a0
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Durga Puja here may not be as bright and bustling as it is in the Bong land. But certain pockets of the city literally transform into mini Kolkata to capture the splendour and joy of the celebration, thanks to Bengali associations.
Puja fervour: People offering prayers to Goddess Durga on the occassion
of Mahashtami at Kormangala yesterday. The Bengali Association that
hosts puja at Palace grounds has spent Rs 15 lakh for the celebration.
Pic/Ramesh H S
While people are looking at cost cutting options this Dusshera, the Bengali associations in the city are spending whopping amounts on their Pujas.
For instance, the Gayatri Vihar puja, which witnesses maximum number of devotee footfalls, has spent around Rs 15 lakh for the celebration at Palace Grounds.
This is probably the only time during the year when upwardly and mobile Bengalis give denim a miss and slip into traditional attireu00a0-- sari and dhuti-panjabiu00a0-- and step out for pandal hopping.
"The main celebration at Palace Grounds is something no Bengali in the city can give a miss. Being away from one's native city can be hard on the heart and mind of a Bengali. Keeping this in mind, we host this grand celebration every year. The festival is an occasion when people take a break from their rigorous routine and come together to celebrate the festival of Bengalis," said Alok Biswas, Member, Bengali Association. Various communities in the city too decorated their areas and the parks as part of the celebration.
"Koramangala hosts two grand Durga Pujas. There are other such celebrations going on at Sarjapura, Bannerghatta Road, JP Nagar and Indiranagar," added Biswas.