With dhaakis and bhog, Hyderabad decked up for Durga puja

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad is all decked up for Durga Puja celebrations. From the sound of dhaakis (drums) to bhog (afternoon prasadam), ‘mini Bengal’ comes into its own in puja pandals dotting across the city.
Among various pandals set up during the festive season, the pandal by Hyderabad Bangalee Samity (HBS), inaugurated on Monday by British deputy high commissioner in Hyderabad, Andrew Fleming and Telangana chief secretary SK Joshi, stands out by sticking to tradition.
“We have been celebrating the annual puja ritual for the last 76 years. Be it the platform for Goddess Durga or the rituals associated with the puja, we have maintained the tradition,” said Sumit Sen, general secretary, HBS.
The cultural extravaganza began on Sunday at PVR Convention Centre in Lower Tank Bund. “The beauty of our puja is the idol that is transported from Kolkata and artisans of Kumartuli are giving the final touches here. We have priests and the dhaakis and other artistes from Kolkata, turning the pandal into a mini Bengal,” Sen added. Bhog is another highlight of the pandal. “Every year we feed over 10,000 people during the puja season,” he said.
For the large Bengali population, no celebration is complete without a visit to the pandal at the Keyes High School in Secunderabad.
In its 53rd year, the Durga Puja by the Bangiya Sanskritk Sangha (BSS) is one of the biggest in the twin cities. “This year’s puja has Mughal empire as its theme. It was inaugurated by the 60 inmates of the old age home in Boiguda,” said Deepak Bhattacharjee, president, BSS, which has 1,800 life members.
In Miyapur, Cyberabad Bangali Association (CBA) in its 11th year has set the pandal as Raj Mahal. “With a dimension of 120 ft wide and 35 feet high, ours has the biggest elevation of the pandals this year,” said Subhro Mukherjee, general secretary, CBA.
The Durga Puja celebration at Meridian High School, Hitech City by the Utsab Cultural Association is eco-friendly. Krishnendu Roy, secretary, UCA, said they have used over 1.10 lakh old magazines to decorate the pandal. “We have tried giving the goddess a different look,” Roy added. The Bangalee Cultural Association, celebrating their 45th year at Masab Tank, has a theme on helping talented underprivileged students.