Hyderabad is preparing for Bathukamma and Navaratri, with Durga Puja organisers erecting pandals and artisans putting finishing touches on idols.
Hyderabad is gearing up for the festive season, with Bathukamma celebrations set to begin on Saturday and Navaratri from Sunday. While the state government is making arrangements for the Bathukamma celebrations, the organisers of Durga Puja across the city are preparing for their celebrations, with pandals being erected and artisans giving finishing touches to idols.
Ramakrishna Math will celebrate Durga Puja and Lakshmi Puja on its premises. Swami Bodhamayananda, Adhyaksha, said the Math would follow its annual traditions, with Maha Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami pujas being held.
At Hyderabad Bangalee Samity on Lower Tank Bund Road, artisans Amal Pal and Shyamal Paul of Kumartuli are giving final touches to the Durga idol. The third-generation idol makers are preparing the idol for the Samity, which has been holding the celebrations for the past 85 years, making the Bengali group one of the oldest in Telangana.
Explaining the arrangements, committee vice-chairman Biswajit Mukherjee said, “Maa Durga idol will be in the traditional Ek Chala style, made using Ganga river clay, husk, bamboo and natural colours. The materials are pollution-free, making the idol eco-friendly and sustainable. Maa Durga and her children — goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesh — will be dressed in Banarasi sarees from Varanasi and Jamdani fabric from rural Krishnanagar in West Bengal.”
The Bengalee Cultural Association, which attracts more than 50,000 devotees each year, is also preparing a themed celebration at Banjara Hills.
Organiser Sanjay Pan said, “There will be several unique features at our event this year. An idol maker from Midnapore in West Bengal is working on the idol in Charminar. For the main event, the Banjara Function Hall in Banjara Hills will be transformed into an old zamindar's house. This year's theme is ‘Bonedi Barir Pujo’, the traditional puja of an old zamindar's house.”
