Durga Pujo in Mumbai

I have celebrated Durga Pujo, the yearly festival for the bengalee's in Baruipur, Kolkata, Manila, Bangkok and Mumbai. One thing I have grwon to like is the Durga Puja in Mumbai. Its true there is nothing like Durga Puja in Kolkata. It is in the air and one can start discussing the coming Puja one month before it actually happen. The city and state will also go on 10 day holiday to celebrate it. Its true that in Mumbai oe cannt feel it in the air and one need to have a circle to really experience the joy of Durga Puja. However, in Mumbai there are many puja in different places and one can have Vog in any of the Puja pandals. There are cultural programs in the evening and there would bengali delicacies through at an exorbitant price. Its bit sad that this year the Puja will be shorter since Austami and Navami are in the same day. Its a pity that we dont have holidays in Mumbai on this occasion. The purity and the orginal meaning of this festival is getting lost with passing days and now it is more of an commercial extravaganza. Good thing in Mumbai that most of the successful singers and actors are the force behind the Puja in their localities and that way there is a venue to experience home much away from home. One need to exeprience the festivals of people to understand the history of the people and Durga puja is affirmation of Bengals heritage, aspiretion and indication of its culture.

Pandal hopping is one of the favourite thing to do in Mumbai as in anywhere else and having vog in Mumbai. We went to Mahakali, Powai, Shivaji Park, Kandivilli-Lokhandawala and Tejpal hall puja. The Puja in Shivaji park has special place in our heart since it is held in the Kali Temple there. Ma Kali has always guided us and protected us from all things bad and have showered her blessings and mercy on us. We loved the Godess Durka in Shivaji park and Tejpal hall the most.

We watcehd the bengali challenls to see the Puja coverage around the world. One thing that strcuk us as we saw Puja in Dubai, Birmingham etc, was the ordinariness of the many living aborad contrary to our common believe that only the polished and well off get to live abroad.