Durga is the Goddess against all evils and also the source of happiness and enthusiasm for Bengalis across the globe during the Durga Puja. The Puja starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Ashwin, and the festive mood builds up as dhakis (drummers) start beating feathered drums.

From family festival to barowari (twelve friends’ puja) till sarbojonin (general), Durga Puja many facets. About three lakh Bengalis in Bangalore who are all set to keep the spirit of the festival alive.

“This is the 58th year of the association’s Durga Puja in Bangalore,” said President of Bengali Association, Ulsoor, Achintya Lal Roy.

The association’s puja will start with Bodhan, Amantran and Adhibason on Maha Shasthi. Agomoni (invocation of Devi Durga through music, dance and stotra), anandamela, pushpanjali, arati, community bhog and prasad of rosogulla, sandesh and fruits form an integral part of the puja on Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Nabami. The most auspicious ritual Sandhi Puja (at the junction of ashtami and navami) will be the highlight of the event, Roy said.

The association has invited Samarthana Trust (centre for visually impaired and physically challenged children) to perform at the cultural programme this year.

The preparation starts almost two months before the puja. The artisans, priests and dhakis are invited from Kolkata. “While it is a Bengali festival, over two lakh people of different communities visit our pandal every year,” said Roy. 

The Sarathi Trust, Koramangala is organising puja for the fifth year now. The idea of the five-day function is to bring people from different states and communities together to worship Maa Durga in perfect harmony, said Chairman of the trust Shyamal Kumar Sen. This year, the trust has invited dandiya dance troupes from Gujarat
The organisation of Bengalis in Yelahanka has invited scholars of Bengali literature from Kolkata, said Anoop Kumar Mitra, a member of the organisation.

“Visitors of all communities come to our pandal and we’re arranging for food for all visitors from saptami to navami,” said Mitra.

On Maha Dashami, people see the reflection of the idol of Durga in a pot full of water, as a symbolic immersion. The actual immersion of the idol in a water body is done later.

Sindurvarana, when women put sindur (vermillion) on the idol and and on each other, aarti with Dhunuchi Naach, in which groups dance on the rhythm of dhaak, with chalices full of smoking embers in front of the idol, are the highlights of the Bengali Durga Puja, Roy said.