Varanasi: The city of Kashi is all set to indulge in the three-day Durga Puja festivities in grand style from Saturday.On Friday, the idol of the deity began arriving in the puja pandals.Though few Durga Puja organisers install idols on the first day of Shardiya Navratri, around 600 puja pandals in the district open for devotees on saptami (seventh day), following installation of the idols on shashti (sixth day) night.Due to huge crowd, puja organisers and idol makers in Bengali Tola, Pandey Haveli, Mughalsarai and other areas remained busy till late Friday night, attending customers and giving finishing touches to the decoration for the festival. As per their tradition, seers and people associated with Sarva Seva Sangh carried out their religious procession to mark the beginning of Durga Puja celebrations. Additional commissioner of police (law and order), S Chinappa, reviewed the preparations for the festival with the officials of Kashi, Varuna and Gomti zones who had already completed the exercises of holding meetings with peace committees. Officials also finalised the traffic plan, parking, crowd regulation and all other arrangements. We also published the following articles recentlyDurga Puja festivities begin today amid magnificent pandalsThe Bengali community in Mumbai is gearing up to celebrate the five-day Durga Puja festival. Various Puja events will be taking place in different suburbs of the city, including Goregaon, Andheri, Malad, and Kandivli. Each event has its unique theme and attractions, such as the Santiniketan University-inspired decor at the Kallol Durga Puja, the open-air Trento Lawns venue for the all-women Ananda Utsav Durga Puja, and the antique Mughal Raj set at Krishtis Durga Puja. These events will offer cultural performances, bhog meals, and support for charitable causes.Durga Puja: Idol makers rue high cost, low profitArtisans in Patna are working overtime to complete idols of Goddess Durga before the upcoming nine-day Durga Puja festival. The idols are made using straws, bamboo frames, and clay, and the final touches are being added before drying the clay in the sun. However, the rising costs of materials and workers wages are making idol-making a less profitable business for the artisans. They are struggling to earn enough money to support their families for the entire year.Puja pandals turn crowd-pullers with towering idols, music, bhogThe celebration of Durga Puja is underway in Mumbai, with various pandals preparing to welcome large crowds. The Spandan organisation in Powai is celebrating its 11th Sharadotsav with a theme of unity. The Chembur Durga Puja Association has moved to a bigger venue and is showcasing West Bengals visual arts. The Vikhroli Bengali Association is hosting its 58th Puja with an eco-friendly idol. Mulund is home to multiple Durga Puja events, including one by the Bengal Institute of Art and Culture. The Navajeevan Sangha Puja in Mulund is offering a free health camp and feeding underprivileged people.

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