Lucknow: Bengalis welcomed Goddess Durga with the resonant beats of dhaak, dance, fireworks and greetings of “Shubho Durga Pujo” as Durga Puja celebrations began in Lucknow on Friday.Men dressed in dhoti-kurta and women in laal paar sada sarees and traditional Bengali tant drapes, paired with gold jewellery, added to the festive atmosphere at pandals that drew families, visitors and devotees through the day.At Bengali Club, devotees gathered early in the morning for Chandipath recitation by Indrajeet Mitra. A dance drama on Mahishasur Mardini, directed by Pratibha Bannerjee and performed by a troupe from Kolkata, was also scheduled as part of the cultural line-up, adding to the festivity.For Sushmita Roy, who travelled to Lucknow from Bihar after seven years, the celebrations hold special significance this year. She has arrived with a group of 12 family members. “My children, husband, in-laws and I have all taken time off work to celebrate Durga Puja in Lucknow,” she said.Food remained a major attraction at several pandals. At Sahara Estates Durga Puja Pandal, stalls serving Bengali delicacies drew crowds through the day. Visitors were seen enjoying alur dum with luchi, baigan bhaja, aloo posto and payesh, among other festive favourites. “I live nearby in a PG and came with my friends especially to gorge on Bengali food,” said a devotee Arya Mishra.Children, too, joined the festive prayers in their own way. Ten-year-old Mayank Srivastava folded his hands before the idol and prayed for a new bicycle and success in his studies.At Rabindrapalli Durga Puja Park, an 18-foot-tall eco-friendly idol of Goddess Durga was unveiled before a large gathering of devotees. The idol’s grandeur and divine expression left many worshippers emotional as they stood before the goddess, offering prayers and soaking in the festive spirit.For many, Pujo also meant returning home. Madhushree Chatterjee, who is married and settled in Jabalpur, said the festival brings her back to Lucknow every year. “For the first time in six years, my husband has also come with me to attend Durga Puja,” she said. Bala Bose, a corporate employee based in Bengaluru, has taken eight days off from work to celebrate the festival with his family in the city.Cultural events will form an integral part of the celebrations. At Rabindrapalli, ‘Rongeen’, a programme featuring a 25-member dance troupe, was staged with performances set to the timeless songs of Rabindranath Tagore, drawing appreciation from the audience.At Ramakrishna Math, the day began with mangla aarti at 4.30am. Swami Mukthinathananda, president of RKM, Lucknow, said, “This is the time when the divine Goddess Durga descends on earth to bless her beloved children. Everyone should participate in the puja as Maa herself comes to bless us.”Across the city, pandals turned into centres of devotion, reunion and celebration as families and friends came together amid prayers, music, food and cultural performances to mark the arrival of Maa Durga.
