Being born and brought up in the City of Joy , Calcutta , I am a Bengali at heart and a Punjabi by birth. Its that time of the year again when I miss my city the most- Durga Puja . I moved to Gurgaon around 16 years and was not sure if I would be able to experience the Puja celebrations and festivities in the city. Thankfully since Gurgaon has a sizeable Bengali population , this festival is celebrated in many areas and societies and only gets better and bigger each year . This year , Durga Puja will be celebrated from October 15th – October 19th  .

Durga Puja Dates

Mahalaya – 8 October 2018 (Monday)- Mahalaya is believed to be the day Goddess Durga descends on earth. The day starts as early as 5 am by listening to the famous ChandiPath by Birendra Krishna Bhadra on the radio or online

Maha Sashti – 15 October 2018 (Monday)

Maha Saptami – 16 October 2018 (Tuesday)

Maha Ashtami – 17 October 2018 (Wednesday)

Maha Navami – 18 October 2018 (Thursday)

Bijaya Dashami – 19 October 2018 (Friday)-Dashami is the day the Goddess  returns to her abode. Women offer the Goddess sweets and apply vermilion(sindoor) on her feet and then on each other.This ritual is called ‘Shindoor Khela’

Here’s my list of the Must-Visit Durga Puja Pandals in Gurgaon

DLF 1 -Community Centre F-5/6, Block F, DLF Phase 1
Sushant Lok Cultural Society C-131 , Sushant Lok 1 (Next to Paras Hospital )https://www.facebook.com/Sushantlok-Cultural-Society-Regd-156556774384839/
Bangiya ParishadHuda Grounds – Sector 56 (Opp More store )https://www.facebook.com/BangiyaParishadGurgaon/
Vatika City Durga PujaVatika City Community Hall, Sector 49

Dakshin Gurgaon Puja Committee

H Block, Opposite F Block Market,South City 2

http://www.dgpc.in/
Sector 14 Durga PujaSector 14 , Community Centre

Purbapalli Durgotsav

Sector 15, Part II

https://www.facebook.com/purbapalli/

Sri Sri Durga Puja Samity

Sector 47

Ankur Cultural SocietyHUDA Community Centre, Sector 56(Opp Apollo Clinic )https://www.facebook.com/AnkurGurgaon/
Kendriya Vihar Durga Puja Sector 56
DLF 5  Club Puja DLF 5 Clubhttps://www.facebook.com/events/2245041889101334/
Sahashrabdi Durga Puja SamityGreenwood City , Sector 45https://www.facebook.com/sahashrabdi.durgapuja.samity/

Durga Puja is a time for celebration for all . The pandals are open throughout the day and some of them also distribute bhog prasad in the afternoon between 12.30 pm-2.30 on Ashtami and Nobomi . I just love going to the DLF 1 community centre pujo during the morning aarti as it is followed by Dhaak (dhol) . They also have it in the evenings alongwith Dhunuchi naach . The foodie in me is the most happiest during Durga Puja as most of the Puja pandals have food stalls especially serving Bengali cuisine. From egg roll to mughlai paratha to sorshe ilish to dimer devil , you’ll get it all . Few Puja pandals like Bangiya Parishad , Susgant Lok Community Centre and DLF 1 community centre also have Anandomela on a particular evening where Bengali Home Chefs set up their stalls to serve delectable food . All these are paid stalls .

It is advisable to visit the pandals early in the evening as it becomes really crowded later.Most of the pandals do have designated car parking space.

Happy Puja Pandal Hopping this year and do let us how was your experience

Few pandals have shared their schedule 

 

Sharing this beautiful song from a Bengali Movie Bela Sheshe that truly captures the essence of Durga Pujo