Pune: Durga Puja pandals across Pune are turning into cultural hubs this festive season, with organisers lining up performances, from Bengali bands and playback singers to classical dances, musical tributes and comedy theatre, that bring a slice of Bengal’s entertainment scene to the city.Alongside traditional rituals such as pushpanjali, bhog and sindoor khela, cultural programmes remain a major draw. This year’s line-up features established performers, emerging singers, community productions and tributes to some of India’s most celebrated artistes.At Amra Sobai Bangali Sangho (ASBS), which is celebrating its 10th Durga Pujo this year, the cultural programme reflects the community’s growth over the past decade.“We started with just me and a close group from the scientific community,” said Dr Paramita Saha Choudhury, a founding member. “Slowly, more people joined, and the celebration grew bigger. Now we have a full schedule of artists performing during the festival,” she said.The puja will be held from Oct 16 to 21 at Shubhtej Mangal Karyalaya on Sus Road in Pashan, with a Raj Bari theme. Members have been rehearsing for nearly a year, often on weekends, to prepare their own performances. The celebrations will begin with a welcome for Maa Durga, followed by musical performances and an Anand Mela for visitors. Evening concerts will feature Panchforon on Oct 19 and Lord of Strings on Oct 20.At Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad (BSS), the focus will be on music and Bengali literary heritage. The organisation will present Bhanusingher Padabali, Rabindranath Tagore’s celebrated collection of Vaishnava lyric poetry, at Congress Bhavan at 7pm on Oct 16.The programme will also feature a tribute to legendary singer Asha Bhosle on Oct 18. On Oct 19, BSS will host Srijan Porel, a participant in Indian Idol Season 15 and second runner-up in Zee Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, at Congress Bhavan. The line-up brings together Bengal’s literary and musical traditions and contemporary popular talent.Kalpataru Cultural Association, meanwhile, has built its identity around bringing diverse cultural traditions together. Its 2026 edition, themed ‘Samagam’, will be held at Vighnaharta Palace on Mohammadwadi Road in Hadapsar.“We wanted the pandal to reflect a confluence of cultures,” said association president Bhutnath Chakraborty. “Along with Bengali Durga Puja, we have elements from Odisha’s Jagannath tradition, Assamese culture and other Indian traditions,” he said.The five-day cultural programme opens on Oct 16 with Agomoni, followed by ‘Adishakti’, a Bharatanatyam performance by Kalavardhini Dance Company and a Garba night.The festival will also feature performances by Kalpataru’s children, girls and women, followed by musical tributes to Uttam Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Zubeen Garg and Bhupen Hazarika. On Oct 19, members of the Assamese community will present a Bihu dance, followed by a live concert. The celebrations will conclude on Oct 20 with Bharate Chai, a Bengali comedy play, and a concert by the winners of VPL Pune 2026.The cultural calendar extends beyond community-led performances, with other organisers also bringing music and dance to their pandals. The line-up at another venue includes Anand Mela, a talent showcase presented by Bangla Bharati, and Amar Gaan, a musical tribute to Kishore Kumar. Performances by Anushka Patra and other artistes will add to the celebrations.For organisers, these programmes go beyond entertainment. They offer younger generations an opportunity to engage with Bengali music and culture while giving the city a glimpse of the rich diversity of traditions associated with Durga Puja. As Pune’s pandals welcome visitors over the coming days, the celebrations promise a blend of devotion, nostalgia and live performances, with the cultural stage becoming almost as important as the rituals themselves.
