Kolkata: Non-resident Bengali Durga Pujas in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore remain largely traditional with the pandals evoking the spirit of Kolkata’s Durga Pujas, albeit with a touch of local culture.The puja venues are transformed into mini-Kolkata with stalls selling sarees, traditional Bengali paintings, and food. Artefacts and installations of Kolkata’s iconic landmarks and personalities adorn these pandals.In its 47th year, the puja organised by Navi Mumbai Bengali Association Vashi has been following the tradition of sculpting the Durga idol only with ‘Ganga Mati’ (the soil from river Hooghly), fetched from Kolkata. “The artisan who crafts our idol ferries the soil to make several other idols in Mumbai,” said Ashim Dey, a member of the association. The puja also features stalls selling sarees and paintings from Bengal.Another puja in Pune’s Wagholi, Kashphul Durgotsab IVY Estate, will showcase mini-installations of Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial, Kolkata’s trams and yellow taxis.“Our theme has been titled as ‘nostalgic memories trip back to home.’ There are about 200 Bengali families living here,” said Rahul Mitra, joint secretary of the puja’s organising committee.In its third year, the Kashphul Durgotsab has already made a name for itself. “Besides Bengalis, we have Maharashtrians, Odias, Biharis, people from UP and south India participating in our puja. On Sashthi, a Marathi group will perform rituals and also put up cultural performances. It is a sarbojonin puja, in true sense,” said Mitra.Delhi’s CR Park, a mini-Kolkata, alone has eight Durga Pujas, said Debashish Sen, general secretary of Durga Puja Samiti CR Park Mela Ground. “Our puja has turned 51-year-old this year. We have stuck to the tradition while organising the puja. This is also one of the largest Durga Pujas of north India,” said Sen.Bengaluru, too, witnesses several Durga Pujas nowadays. A member of the 21-year-old Durga Puja organised by Bengaluru Cultural Association Munnekollal in Mahadevpura said Bengalis not just from the neighbourhood but also from other parts of the city join the puja celebration. “The puja offers a cherished opportunity for the diaspora to stay connected to their roots,” he said.
