Thane: With just a few days left for Navratri, the Bengali community in city is all set to ring in the Durga Puja celebrations. The completely lit up streets, delicious food and lots of fanfare, Thaneites are seen flocking to temples and pandals to celebrate the auspicious Ashtami and Navami today.With the eighth and ninth day of Navratri coinciding this year as well, devotees will not only join in the extravagant celebration complete with feasting on authentic delicacies, cultural events and pandal hopping, but also spend their day visiting Devi temples and pandals for prayer and puja, especially the Sandhi Puja which is the most auspicious time of the day.“While we celebrate each of the nine days of Navratri by praying to the various avatars of Ambe Ma, Ashtami is extremely auspicious as we worship all kumarikas who represent the Goddess. On this day, we fast through the day and break this fast after the puja in the evening. We prepare vegetarian Prasad for the Devi and non-vegetarian Prasad including mutton, coupled with alcohol, for the Devi’s sevak,” said Vartak Nagar resident Kameshwari Kulkarni.Agreeing with Kulkarni, Hiranandani Estate resident Ananya Hegade, said, “The most auspicious time of the nine day period is the Sandhi Puja which comprises the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami. While my family and I go to the Gaodevi mandir in the morning for prayers every year, we have taken leave from work to go a little after noon during this auspicious time this year. We will then join a nearby mandal for some bhondla celebration.”Many have planned a string of activities including Pandal hopping, participating in cultural programs organised by the Durga Ma and Ambe Ma mandals here, feasting on the array of traditional delicacies that vary from culture to culture and spending time with family through the rest of the day.“This is the biggest festival for our community in the entire year. After visiting the temple and seeking Durga Maa’s blessing in the morning, we will be visiting the popular Durga pandals in the city as well as a few in Mumbai. This is the only time in the year where we can feast on some delicious bhog, mutton and chicken rolls, cutlets and various authentic Bengali fish delicacies, a major chunk of our celebration will include meeting relative and friends at the pandals and feasting together,” said Kavita Majumdar, a Ghodbunder Road area resident.

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