In keeping with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Bondhu Mahal Durga Puja pandal at the Rajendra Singh Park Indiranagar ( B Block) will be decked up in tricolour hues this year.

Durga Puja committee secretary Sushanto Ghosh said that on August 15 last, they celebrated the Amrut Mahotsav and felicitated 75 people above the age of 75 years. “Our Durga Puja will be an extension of the same programme and the decoration of the pandal will be in tricolour. The entire park will be covered in tri-coloured lights,” he said.

He added that since the Durga Puja is taking place two year after Covid, they were expecting a very good response from the general public. “We also carry out various philanthropic activities through this puja. In April, we sponsor the education of more than 50 girls who cannot afford it. We provide stationery to students of nursery classes in need,” he said. He added that programmes would be carried out throughout the year and the best teachers in UP selected by the Education department would be celebrated.

“Apart from Saraswati, Kali and Laxmi puja, we have parallel activities with the money saved in Durga Puja. All those who voluntarily contribute to the puja are invited to attend these programmes,” Ghosh said. He added that the Bengali community is excited about the puja this year.

“Earlier, people were scared due to the pandemic but now they are telling us that they are interested in ‘bhog’. We make special arrangements for senior citizens,” he pointed out.

Regarding the programmes to be held during Durga Puja, he said: “The day when the Durga idol is installed, there will be a bhajan programme by women. Dandiya is held on On Navami and ‘bhog’ is served on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami. A gathering of more than 20,000 people per day is expected. People visit the pandal from 8 am to 12 pm and Bengalis come from all parts of the city.”

Talking about the ‘bhog’, he said they would be serving ‘moong dal khichdi’, ‘chochdi’, a mixture of seasonal vegetables, ‘pyaas’, chutney and ‘dorbesh’.