The festivity and charm of
Durga Puja in Delhi and NCR will be revealed in stages by Shouvik
Basak.
Pujas at Delhi and NCR
Delhi Durga Puja Samity, estabilished in 1910, celebrated the oldest Durga Puja
in Delhi, 2011 being the 102nd year. Popularly known as the Kashmere Gate Durga
Puja, attracted people from all over Delhi and the National Capital Region
(NCR). It is held in the field of Bengali Senior Secondary School in the
Kashmere Gate area. The environment at the puja mandap maintains a traditional
touch, with the Pratima in 'Ek Chala' (single frame) Daker Saaj.
Kashmere Gate, Delhi Durga Puja Samity
Not
too far from Kashmere Gate is the Timarpur Durga Puja. Timarpur and Civil Lines
Puja Samity is celebrating 98th year of puja this year. After the capital
shifted from Calcutta to Delhi, Bengali Babus who were primarily the Government
servants residing in this area started the puja in 1914 inside the residential
colony.
Timarpur Durga Puja inside the residential
colony
Timarpur and Civil
Lines Puja Samity
In the Saket Area, in K Block this year
the theme of the pandal is on Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore's works. A
few minutes drive from K block, inside the Sector 1 residential colony
M.B. Road Durga Puja Samity is celebrating durga puja. On the evening
of Ashtami children performed wonderful dance and drama to enthrall
the crowd.
K Block Saket Durga Puja
Sandhi Puja at MB Road Durga Puja
In GK II E Block (Greater Kailash II), the mandap is inspired by the
architecture of Edwin Lutyens. An exhibition is setup in the lawn to depict the
evolution of Delhi as capital. A must see at GK II is the evening Arati and
Dhunuchi naach on the evening of Navami. The design and lighting within the
mandap creates a great ambiance to sit back, relax and watch the arati.
GK II mandap
Navami Evening Arati at GKII
In Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), Cooperative Ground Samiti in K Block won the
second prize in the best pandal category given by Times of India. Milani
Cultural & Welfare Association in Mayur Vihar came 1st while Matri Mandir in
Safdurjung Enclave came third.
In CR Park area there were other puja pandals as well which drew huge crowds in
Mela Ground, B Block, E Block and Shiv Mandir. Some other must see pujas to
visit in the Delhi area are Aram Bagh, Nivedita Enclave, Mayur Vihar and Matri
Mandir.
CR-Park Shiv-Mandir Pratima
CR-Park K-Block Pandal
In Noida, there are about 30 Durga Pujas. One of thge
most visited puja in Noida is the one at Noida Kali Bari in Sector 26.
This year the theme was lotus with the mandap designed in pink colour.
Saptarshi Sangha in Sector 50 this year has the pandal on
the theme of Jorasanko Thakurbari, ancestral home of Kobiguru
Rabindranath Tagore. The puja started in 2005 and is one of the must
visit puja in Noida. Commemorating Rabinranath Tagore's 150th birth
anniversary, the mandap gives a glimpse of his art and works in his
life.The mandap, which gives the impression of a courtyard, is
decorated with beautiful artwork by the residents of the sector and
cultural programmes are being held specially on Kobiguru's work, with
recitation, singing and quiz competition for the children.
Sector 62 is celebrating its
10th year of durga puja with the usual gaiety and fervor. Its a
community puja with bhog being served on all days. There are excellent
cultural programmes held in the evenings, being performed by the
children in the sector and artists from outside as well.
Sector 62 Durga Puja Pandal
Pratima @ Sector 62, Noida
In
Jalvayu Vihar, Durga puja started in 1993 by
the Bengali residents of Sector 21 and 25. This year the theme is
the handicrafts of Bengal and Ma Durga idol is in the terracotta style.
Jalvayu Vihar Durga Puja Pratima
Jalvayu Vihar Durga Puja
Artwork
Noida Sector 71 Durga Puja Pandal
In
Ghaziabad, Shipra Sun City this year has theme on Swami Vivekananda,
on his 150th birth anniversary.
