Ghaziabad: His smile once lit up the silver screen. This Durga Puja, it will greet visitors at a pandal in Indirapuram. Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, the iconic Bengali film star, who dominated the industry from the 1950s to 1980s, would have turned 100 this year. At Shipra Suncity Bongotoru Durga Puja in Central Park, Indirapuram, the superstar is coming back to life through the pandal showcasing his enduring legacy.Kumar’s appeal has transcended generations. One of Bengali cinema’s most bankable stars during its golden era, he remains a cultural touchstone for Bengalis across the world. His familiar smile adorns the pandal walls, while stills from films such as Saptapadi, Harano Sur, Indrani and Nayak feature on the front facade. Greater Kailash-1 Durga Bari, too, has brought a slice of the actor’s legacy to Delhi.“Uttam Kumar represents a shared cultural memory. The centenary provides an opportunity to revisit that legacy while introducing it to audiences in the north who may know the legend more by name than by his work,” said Avinash Chakraborty, general secretary of Bongotoru.Durga Puja marks the goddess’s homecoming. It brings people together in a vibrant celebration of culture, art and devotion, more so for the expatriate or ‘probasi’ Bengali community. Dedicated to Durga’s victory over demon Mahishasura, the festival symbolises the triumph of good over evil. It is also a celebration of ‘Nari Shakti’.Women are at the helm of a Puja at the Band Baja Barat banquet hall in Shalimar Garden’s Sahibabad. They hold the dhunuchi as well as the dhak sticks and also run the committee. Ananya Nari Durgotsav, organised by Shalimar Garden Mahila Sewa Samiti (Durga Puja, Sahibabad), is an ode to every woman’s untold story. Here the gender roles are reversed.Traditionally, men have presided over the rituals, but at this Durgotsav, it’s the women who recite slokas and do Chandipath. The President of this committee, Papri Chakroborty, told TOI, “The puja this year is dedicated to the woman who keeps the home running, who dreams, who struggles in silence, who rises, and to every woman whose story deserves to be heard.” The Puja, in its fifth edition this year, lends voice to five attributes of womanhood — strength, togetherness, safety, heritage and femininity and fertility.Interestingly, only the male members are allowed to put up stalls at the pandal. They are in charge of preparing snacks and knick-knacks sold at kiosks, member Kishor Bandyopadhyay said.At Crossings Republik, a slice of Badrinath has taken shape at the township’s Durga Puja in its 16th year. Themed on the famed Himalayan temple, the pandal promises grandeur, while the cultural programme will add a musical touch to the festivities. Evenings will feature instrumental tributes to RD and SD Burman by a band, alongside vocal performances by participants from Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and Indian Idol. Dance dramas will round off the programme. “There are more than 300 probashi Bengalis in our township,” the general secretary of the Crossings Republik Bengali Cultural Association, Deepankar Chakraborty, said.At Ramprasth Greens in Vaishali, the spirit of Durga Puja lies in a minimalistic approach. No elaborate theme, towering pandal or extravagant arrangements — just the goddess’s idol, a modest stage and a celebration rooted in simplicity.Meanwhile, Prantic Cultural Society in Indirapuram is taking visitors on a journey back in time with its 18th Durga Puja celebrations, recreating the three historic villages of Bengal — Sutanuti, Kalikata and Gobindapur — showcased through old photographs. The installation also draws attention to sustainable practices, with the pandal being crafted entirely from biodegradable materials such as bamboo and jute. The committee’s infrastructure secretary, Akshay Bose, said, “Our pandal has been designed by artisans from Bengal, using materials that are completely biodegradable.”In its seventh year, Raj Nagar Extension Puja Evam Sanskritik Trust is keeping the celebrations understated, with the emphasis on cultural heritage and festive warmth. The highlight is a magic show by Middya Junior.Sanjib Pal, president of the Prayasi Puja Committee in Indirapuram, which is celebrating its 20th Durga Puja this year, believes it is Durga’s grace that has kept the festival alive and thriving, even through the most challenging times. Over the years, the committee has grown into an extended family, bound by a shared devotion and a collective sense of belonging. True to this spirit, it welcomes everyone with open arms and serves bhog on all days of the puja, without any restrictions. “Our theme is for all, by all,” Pal added, capturing the inclusive spirit at the heart of the celebrations.
