Durga Puja 2023: The oldest Durga Puja pandals in Mumbai that you must visit this year

The financial capital of India Mumbai which is home to a lot of Bengalis is gearing up to celebrate Durga Puja Also known as Durga Pujo it is celebrated with great pomp and show outside Kolkata in cities like Mumbai as wellThe Durga Puja pandals in Mumbai attract people from all walks of life including Bollywood celebrities Five days of bhog aarti feast and cultural programs organised during Durga Puja turn Mumbai into mini KolkataOne of the most famous Durga puja pandals in the city is Bombay Durga Bari Samiti located near August Kranti Maidan in South Mumbai It held the first Durga puja in 1930 at Kala Ghoda and after changes in several locations the celebrations have moved to Tejpal Hall at August Kranti MaidanSpeaking to middaycom Susmita Mitra President of the Bombay Durga Bari Samiti said ldquoAs we mark our 94th year our journey has been a celebration of unity and compassion Through consistent events and charitable activities we extend a helping hand to every part of society without discrimination Even during the challenges of Covid19 we remained active receiving humongous responses Each year a new theme allows us to promote culture and language giving Probashi Bengali a taste of home We keep it simple focusing on rituals and culture passing on our rich heritage to the next generationrdquoldquoWhat began with five Bengalis grew into a strong community with the new generationrsquos active involvement We bring artisans from Bengal displaying the brilliance of folk art We showcase folk music like Baul sharing the philosophy of life to join our cultural events As we move forward our commitment to preserving traditions remains unwavering Together we continue to weave the tapestry of Bengali folk art keeping our culture vibrant and aliverdquo she addedAlso Read Durga Puja 2023 How to wear a saree Here are easy tips and tricks for saree drapingSpeaking about the ecofriendly idol of Goddess Durga the President of Bombay Durgabari Samiti said ldquoThe idol stands tall at a height of 75 feet and with Mukut itrsquos 95 feet crafted with utmost care for the environment We prioritise ecofriendliness by fashioning the idol entirely from clay Our commitment extends to the use of exclusively organic colours for painting devoid of any chemical componentsrdquoFor its 94thyear celebration Bombay Durga Bari Samiti will have an Ode to Folk Art as their themeldquoThis Durga Puja we reverently honour the vibrant and soulstirring realm of folk art a magnificent celebration of our diverse culture Our theme for this years Pujo at Tejpal is Ode to Folk Art We decided to immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of colours patterns and tales that are delicately woven into each brushstroke breathing life into traditional art forms within our mesmerising pandalrdquo Susmita Mitra saidSpeaking about the price rise and whether it is affecting Durga puja celebrations Mitra said ldquoItrsquos surely very challenging to organise everything due to the price rise But we never compromise on the scale of the event and members try their level best to raise the fundsrdquoShe further added they are incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated supportive community of sponsors who help them every yearldquoOur members have shown immense generosity as we reach out for donations Additionally weve welcomed many new members this yearrdquo Susmita Mitra addedAnother wellknown Durga Puja pandal is North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samiti in Juhu The pandal started Durga Puja celebrations 76 years ago under the leadership of Late Sashadhar Mukherjee along with close friends and family membersAlso Read Navratri 2023 Flaunt your Garba moves in style with these outfit ideasOur pandal is the biggest according to me The Durga Puja pandal is 70 feet breadth by 100 feet length and the Durga idol is 20 feet high The entertainment hall is 100 feet breath by 200 feet length and at least 1000 people can sit in that hall The pandal has 40 food stalls And the pandal has central AC said Deb MukherjeeOur journey started 76 years ago under the leadership of my parents Late Sashadhar Mukherji and Late Sati Rani Devi who along with some close friends and family members started the Pujo At that time the Durga idols height was six feet And now the idol is 20 feet high and it weighs three tonnes Now 76 years have gone through Maa Durga does everything she helps us collect funds and she manages everythingSpeaking about the Durga idol Deb Mukherjee said It is made of clay The mud comes from Kolkata after which the idol is madeWe dont have any theme I know many people are doing Chandrayaan and the World Cup as their theme for the pandal but our theme is pretty basic My father always said the service of the people is the main thing He always said devotees who come to seek blessings give them comfort and give them the special service that is more important than creating big themes We also serve bhog and 1000 people at least eat that bhog Our members and children serve people that bhog he saidWhen asked if the price rise affected Durga Puja celebrations Deb Mukherjee said ldquoYes 100 per cent it is affecting the celebrations We are short on the money this time but we are not trying to compromise with the service towards devoteesMeanwhile Bengal Club which is at Shivaji Park is considered to be among the iconic Durga Pujas of Mumbai And another one of the famous Durga Puja pandals is Powai Sarvajanin DurgotsavAlso Read Ratalu to Roesti Mumbai chefs share glutenfree Navratri fasting recipes