Navaratri 2022: Durga Puja Pandals open doors for Devotees
Ahmedabad: The Sharad Navaratri is observed annually during the September-October months and depicts the onset of autumn season in India. This year the festival is being celebrated from Monday, September 26, 2022, to Tuesday, October 04, 2022.
Each day of the nine-night long festival is dedicated to an incarnation of Goddess Durga, who is an epitome of a warrior goddess. Durga is worshipped during Navaratri as a symbol of good triumphing over the evil.
Every year, Durga Puja is observed from the sixth day onwards. The Bengal Cultural Association of Ahmedabad elaborately organises the Durga Puja each year for the devotees.
The city will mark the association’s 85th Durga Puja Celebrations till October 05, 2022, with a series of cultural events, grand bhog, live performances, and various competitions for children and adults alike.
This year, the Durga Puja Pandals across the city opened for devotees from the fifth and sixth day of Navaratri onwards. Around 10 pandals have been set up across the city this year.
However, the most popular pandal venue is set by the Bengal Cultural Association at the Kalibaari. The Kalibaari is located on the Rajpath Rangoli Road. They opened the venue to public on panchami or the fifth day that was observed on Friday, September 30, 2022.
A member of the association said, “Ours is the largest Durga Pujo Pandal across the state, drawing footfalls of nearly 90,000 every year. Renowned Bengali artists including Akash Sen, Lagnajita Chakraborty, Avishek Sinha Chowdhury will perform live this year.”
Another attraction is the ONGC Durga Puja Pandal. The pandal is organised by the Chandkheda Bengal Cultural Association. The pandal venue opened for devotees on Shashti or the sixth day that was observed on Saturday, October 01, 2022.
“Our pandal was inaugurated on Saturday with the Shashti puja. Anand Mela was held on Friday,” Goutam Lahiri, the general secretary of the organisation said.
A Durga Puja pandal is also organised near the Sola highway. Though not as populated or popular compared to the Kalibaari or the ONGC pandal, the venue provides the Navaratri ambience and instils a feeling of peace and faith.
(Avya Mathur)
