It’s that time of the year again! As the Bengalis across the city are gearing up for their most awaited-festival, Dadar’s Shivaji Park — one of the oldest pandals in the city — has plans to increase its grandeur by many folds. This year, visitors of the 84-year-old Durga puja organised by the Bengal Club will get a palatial feel owing to its Sherawali Ka Darbar theme. “Famous art director Nitin Desai will be designing the pandal. This year the visitors will get the feel of a palace. Apart from that, the festival will be celebrated the traditional way,” said Mitali Choudhury, one of the members of the public relations team of the puja committee. Also, the pandal is being set up keeping in senior citizens and divyangjans in mind. Despite the grandeur of the theme, it will be easily accessible for them, added Choudhury. The puja committee has also adopted an environment-friendly approach by making idols using eco-friendly raw materials. The tableau, which includes the 20-feet idol of goddess Durga, will be adorned in gorgeous Benarasi saris and dhotis and exquisite jewellery. Formed in 1922, the 97-year-old Bengal Club has been organising Durga Puja since 1935. The puja has been truly cosmopolitan keeping in mind that it is being organised in an area dominated by the Marathi speaking population. “Dadar has been very cosmopolitan and culturally active. The place witnesses grand celebrations — from Ramleela to Christmas — despite their religious affiliations,” added Mitali. This year the Puja will be inaugurated on October 3 evening, by children of Balak Vihar School, a municipal school. Bengal Club has since this year taken responsibility of providing free lunch to all the students of the school every Saturday, in collaboration with ISCKON. Joy Chakraborty, spokesperson of Bengal Club, said, “In addition to celebrating Bengal’s culture and tradition, this year we will also showcase our club’s core value of striving to create unity through sustained community services.” The initiative of Bengal Club focuses on the welfare of the girl child and women’s empowerment. The club will have traditional Kumari Puja and a number of cultural activities. In evenings, competitions like dhunuchi naach (devotees dance with earthen pots containing smoldering coal and dhoop) and conch blowing will keep the visitors engaged. Besides this, bhog will be served from Saturday (Oct 5) that will include the Bengali khichdi, labda (mix vegetables), beguni (brinjal pakoda) and payesh (Bengali style kheer). “Special pulao will be served on Navami (7th October). There will also stalls where people can buy handcraft items,” said Choudhury.

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