Pune gears up for virtual Durga Puja celebrations this year

Renuka Suryavanshi —————————————————————————-

With the restrictions on gathering, most of the Durga puja celebrations this year are planned virtually. Many Bengali organisations holding durga pujas in Pune shall be airing Durga puja through Facebook and youtube channel. Pune Pulse spoke to various organisations from Pune on how celebrations would be held this year. 

Sandip Bakshi, General Secretary, Punya Nagari Banga Samaj in Vishrantwadi informed that this year the pujo will be held virtually. It can be viewed on https://www.facebook.com/pnbsdurgotsav/
Our purohit will do ghatasthapna at his place. Also we will be supporting Dhakis who come to play dhaki every year. We will be engaging in social activities that would help the family which are in need of financial support. This is a tough time for all of us and we should all support each other. 

Sagarika Banerjee, president, puja committee of Natun Diganta Durgotsab Samiti in Vadgaon Sheri (Chandan Nagar) said, “All our Durga puja celebrations this year would be celebrated virtually. From Ghatasthapna, to Pushpanjali, everything is online. We have decided to extend support to our Purohita, flower vendors. Our purohit has sent out Pushpanjali mantra to the members already so that they can offer them while the puja is aired live on Facebook.” 

General Secretary, Aagomoni Prabasi Sangha in Baner, Rajesh Burman shared, “Durga Puja celebrations this year are planned at the Hirabai Dhankude Multipurpose Lawns, near Baner D-mart. All functions such as durga pujo, pushpanjali, bhog at the venue shall be restricted strictly for members and their families only. We will be distributing masks and following social distancing norms. This is the third year of the Durga puja celebrations. Pujas will be aired on our facebook page and youtube channel too. https://www.facebook.com/aagomoni.prabasi.sangha/“.  

Prangan Association which has been celebrating Durga puja in Wagholi for the last two years behind Wagheshwar temple this year shall hold no grand pujas. Dr Supriya Bhattacharya, president of the organisation said, “This year due to the Covid19 pandemic we shall be supporting Dhakis by giving away some amount. Two families have been identified to whom we shall be supporting. We have about 70 plus members and shall donate whatever we can to support them. We shall also be extending help to an NGO. https://www.facebook.com/prangan.association.wagholi/?ref=py_c” 

Jayanta Chakraborty of Shri Bichkshna Durgotsav Samiti on NIBM road said, “This year we are not celebrating Durga Puja at Mahadev temple because of covid situation. But because this is our greatest festival as Goddess Durga came in my dreams and spelled her name Bichkshna. Also, this year our guru ordered us to perform the Puja therefore this year we shall perform Puja at our residence at NIBM road. We shall air the puja live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bichkshna/ Shri Bichkshna Durgotsav Pune. On the  panchami day after inaugurating Puja everything after the fifth day when the installation happens.” 

Radhika Akolkar, from Anandam Association, Salunke Vihar who has been holding Durgotsav on Salunke vihar road every year this year will have a low key celebration. 

Bidhan Dutta, Bangiyo Samsad Nagar Road, Viman Nagar said, “This year we shall not be celebrating Durga Puja keeping in mind the Covid19 situation. https://www.facebook.com/BSNRPune” 

Rupak Kumar Sinha of Amantran Pune from B T Kawade road informed, “We are celebrating our Durga Puja without idol and public interaction. We are doing it in a symbolic manner by maintaining social distancing. Members will be able to see pujo through our facebook live https://www.facebook.com/Aamantran-Pune-114605463277538 and other social networking platforms. 

Bablu Maity, president, Agradoot Bangosamaj, Kharadi said, “This year we have decided to install the murti and celebrate Durga puja in a hall in Kharadi. This is the third year of our association to host Durga celebrations. We are more into social and cultural activities. We shall also be airing our celebrations  https://www.facebook.com/agradoot.bangosamaj/ .”

Precautions to be taken : 

• Mask is compulsory 
• Social distancing is a must 
• Use of sanitisers