Students celebrate Navaratra at their university
Because that is non-negotiable,” said Riya, i have bought new clothes for puja. Pune: For young adults living away from home for the first time, the city’s Navaratra celebrations offer a warm welcome, with new cuisines to try, traditional costumes to wear and new friends to make. There are stalls in Pune where we get Bengali food. Saheli added that Durga Puja has always been more than just a festival. “It is about home, family, familiar faces, food, traditions, and that feeling of belonging. Being away from home during this time makes you realise how valuable these little things are. There is a certain excitement in experiencing puja in a new city like Pune, but there is also a part of you that keeps longing for home.”
Riya Haldar (22) and Saheli Kundu (21), both from Kolkata, share how they miss planning for pandal hopping back home. Because i have heard it is grand and we get bhog there, i’m looking forward to Pune Kali Bari’s Durga Puja celebration. Born and raised in Nepal, Yadav finds the city’s festive fervour to be quite different from that in his native place. “Right from food and clothing to the atmosphere, Navaratra is celebrated on a much larger scale. I have never seen something like this before. Even though I am away from home and miss my family, I am excited about celebrating with my friends. “It’s also about the reunion of friends and family. This one time of the year is a chance for everyone to come together.
Lucknow’s Rudrakshi Sharma (21) used to gather with friends and go visit various pandals. For Darshna Nikam (19), a student of Fergusson College, hailing from Bhusawal, Navaratra celebrations are about finding beauty in chaos as she builds her life with friends in the city. “I’d always look forward to the food in Delhi. I am hoping my first time away from home in Pune will be equally nice. My friends and I are excited to try and see what Pune has to offer us. “I am eager to try on the traditional chanya choli and cannot wait to dance to the tunes of live music. Being with friends is the whole point as there is a different vibe of excitement when you celebrate festivals with your chosen family. ”