Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav

Heart filledwith anticipation, we manoeuvre towards the entrance. Cars jostle for parking space, dhoti-cladmen and alluring womendraped in Devdas-style sareessashay gracefully in and out, halogens radiatingtheir perfectly decorated faces. It’s the ninth and last night of Navratri, the night before Dussehra and my last chance to experience the much revered Sarvajanik Durgotsav – Public Celebration of Goddess Durga.

Now in its 11th year, the Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav is organised by the Powai Bengali Welfare Association, also known as the PBWA and ranks among the top ten Durga Puja Pandals in Mumbai.

It’s amazing how despite such a massive turnout, everything isso organisedand well under control. The entrance opens to an enormous ground, its every corner oozing festive energy.
Irresistiblearomas of delicious Bengali food follow you everywhere. We somehow manage to control our urge and head first for the blessings of Goddess Durga. Enter thebeautifully themed enclosure and get bedazzled tothelarger-than-life…