BENGALURU: Durga puja celebrations in Bengaluru seem to have gotten bigger this year with Bengali and Assamese associations gearing up to celebrate the festival at HSR Layout, Koramangala, Ulsoor, Sarjapur Road, Murgeshpalya, RT Nagar and JP Nagar. These areas will turn into major hubs for those who cannot make it to their hometowns during the festivities that will be held between October 7 and 11. From local cultural programmes to a variety of cuisines, these Durga Puja venues will have it all.
Dilip Maitri of the Bengali Association that conducts the puja at Ulsoor, says, “This time, our Durga puja decorations are themed on Jamini Roy’s paintings on the Ramayana. We are expecting over 15,000 footfalls every day.”
The festive mood started from the dawn of Mahalaya Amavasya itself. Aninda Chatterjee from the Utsav team that organises the puja at JP Nagar says, “This year’s cultural extravaganza will kick off with a dance-drama depicting Sree Ram’s Swayamvar Sabha on Friday evening. On Mahasaptami on Saturday, Manisha and Manoj Murali Nair will render songs of Rabindranath Tagore. The Ashtami evening’s attraction will be renowned Bengali film artist Kharaj Mukherjee. On Mahanavami, ‘Romyaon’, a hilarious, modern-day adaptation of Ramayana will be enacted by Utsav members. Apart from this, there will be various cultural events for kids and adults alike, through the five days of festivities.”
Those missing out on the big festival at home, at least have something to cheer, says Hiren Kakoti from Assam.