Durga Puja Outing 2013, Bangalore
Durga Puja our biggest celebration is becoming a even more quieter celebration for me. This year I came to know about the date after my mom told me about it. These days in Bangalore, a number of public Durga puja celebrations takes place. This first time I went to one of the venue was on Ashtami to pickup my mother from there at night. However, I did not go inside (not sure why). On Navami, in the afternoon went to the 12th main, Defense colony, Indiranagar Durga puja venue for pushpanjali. This time their preparations seemed to be better in terms of people management and systems. In quick time I was able to perform pushpanjali. Most puja pandels have foods stalls and outside this venue some Lumbini women selling their artifacts. I was there for sometime and came back home.
In the evening around 5 pm went to the RBMNS ground Durga puja venue near Ulsoor lake. This is probably the biggest puja in Bangalore and is conducted by the Bengali association. Inside the venue went to the pandel. After offering a prayer, tried clicking snaps. But as usual it is very tricky to click a good shot at an event in India. A photowalk was also organized by the BLR Photowalk team there. Met some of the photowalk members there. This venue almost resembled like a mela (fair) with food stalls, product stalls and various people selling artifacts. The organizers should be able to retrieve a good percentage of the money they spend on the puja from these stalls as rent.
Without doubt the food stalls are good and is a hit. One can find some authentic Bengali food here. To start with I tried chicken momo and chicken lollipop from a stall run by a Nepali/Tibetian. The man was very enthusiastic in calling customers and he was doing so in Bengali. However, his helpers were slow in delivering and exchanging money. Nevertheless, the food stuffs at his stall was tasty. Then went to try prawn lollipop. 6 pieces for Rs 150. Tummy was almost full. So went around walking and smelling around food stalls. Finally around 7.30 pm left the venue with reminiscences of Durga puja at my native where the four days of the puja used to be a feast. Not even a single moment to spare.
Father son duo at venue
Balloon seller at the venue
To view more pictures visit: Travelingbeats Photo Gallery