Bandra Durga Puja

There is something strange about Durga Puja in Mumbai. A number of the pujas are organised by Bollywood celebrities and there are pujas named after them. For instance, the puja at Lokhandwala is popularly called (playback singer) Abhijeet's Puja, whereas that at Santacruz is (actress) Rani Mukherjee's own. This one at Bandra is named after its initiator, (filmmaker) Sakti Samanta. Now in its 33rd year, there is something very homely about it.

Although Bollywood head honchos like Jaya Bachchan, Mithun Chakravorty, Rakhi Gulzar, Shashi Kapoor and Bappi Lahiri adorn the patrons' list, the focus is on adda, socializing and rituals. "In keeping with tradition, we arrange for a sumptuous bhog every year," says Shankar Moitra, a committee member.

Like any other pandal, here too people stand in queues in front of food stalls, with others at the enclosure housing cultural programmes. Familiar names like (singer) Sampa Kundu of Kolkata and Shaan of Mumbai have been roped in for cultural programmes to be held on all four days.