An artist gives the final touches to an idol of Goddess Durga in Khadki
“Over the past 22 years, Anandam has grown steadily, welcoming an increasing number of visitors every year. Because of a train delay,” he said, the dhakis, meanwhile, are expected to arrive a day late.
Artists from Kolkata, along with performers from Pune and Mumbai, will be part of the celebrations,” said Anupam Kashyapi, chairperson of the puja committee. We want to bring people from diverse backgrounds together through Bengali traditions, music, dance and theatre,” said Amitava Saha, president of Anandam Association. There will be no VIP treatment; everyone joins the queue and participates in the puja,” said Amit Chatterjee. 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.
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. “We want to offer devotees something distinctive this year. “The pandal will also host its all-gender sindoor khela, a tradition it has followed for the past three years. 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. “We wanted to recreate the feeling of a family’s home puja for people living away from West Bengal. “We want devotees, whether Bengali or non-Bengali, to experience an authentic, ritualistic puja.
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. 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.