Varanasi: With the installation of idols of goddess Durga and rituals of their praan pratishtha (invocation) on the auspicious occasion of Saptami (seventh day of Navratri), the footfall of devotees at the beautifully decorated Puja pandals increased from Saturday.Arrival of idols in puja pandals had started from Friday and continued till Saturday afternoon. After performing the rituals, puja organisers opened doors for devotees and revellers. Durga Puja pandal in Hathua Market, bearing resemblance to Karnatakas Kamurudeshwar Mahadev temple, also has a replica of Baba Kedarnath Dham temple inside the pandal on the premises of Sanatan Dharma Inter College and remained the major attraction.Beautiful pandals of Machhodari, Jaitpura and other areas and light decorations by Chandannagar (West Bengal) artistes at Jagatganj were a major draw. Pandals in Luxa, Janganbadi, Bengali Tola Pandeyhaveli, Sonarpura, Bhelupur, Orderly Bazar, Shivpur and other parts of the city drew crowds too. Locals remained busy holding religious rituals and devotional music events besides other activities at the puja pandals in residential colonies and localities.Apart from puja pandals, Durga temples remained heavily crowded in Varanasi, while endless queues were seen in and around the Vindhyachal temple in Mirzapur.Traffic restrictions and diversions were put in place in Varanasi city by late Saturday afternoon in view of increasing crowd. Police Commissioner Ashok Mutha Jain said deployment of policemen had been ensured at each of over 640 Durga Puja pandals in the district, while senior officers were keeping sharp vigil on security, traffic arrangements and crowd regulation exercises.We also published the following articles recentlyFrom temples to Chandrayaan, pandals deck up for Durga PujaTraditional themes are taking center stage in Durga Puja celebrations in Noida, with pandals showcasing the heritage, culture, and arts of West Bengal and Tripura. However, an exception is a Chandrayaan-themed pandal in Ghaziabad, featuring a recreated Vikram lander and a talking robot. Other pandals include a Brahma Dwar-styled pandal, a Kedarnath Temple recreation, and a tribute to Uttarakhand. The celebrations also include cultural programs, food stalls, and performances by artists from various states. Additionally, women-led puja committees and efforts to support artisans and weaver communities are being highlighted.Puja pandals turn crowd-pullers with towering idols, music, bhogThe Sharadiya Navratra festival is being celebrated in Mumbai, with various Durga Puja pandals preparing to welcome large crowds. The Spandan organisation in Powai is celebrating its 11th Sharadotsav with the theme Possible Together, while the Chembur Durga Puja Association has moved to a bigger venue at RCF Ground. The Vikhroli Bengali Association is holding its 58th Puja, and Mulund is home to several Durga Puja events, including one by the Bengal Institute of Art and Culture. These celebrations include cultural performances, bhog prasad distribution, and various activities for the community.Sushmita Sen visits Durga Puja pandal with daughter AlisahActor Sushmita Sen visited a Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai with her daughter Alisah. She looked stunning in a pink saree while Alisah wore a simple lehenga-choli set. Pictures and videos from the event went viral on social media. Sushmita will be seen in the upcoming action thriller series Aarya Season 3, set to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from November 3. The trailer of Aarya 3 received a great response, depicting a more powerful and furious Aarya who is now in charge of her fathers opium empire.

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