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 17 years and was not sure if I would be able to experience the Pujo 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 October 4th to October 8th October .
Durga Puja Dates
Mahalaya – 28th September 2019 (Saturday)- 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 – 4th October 2019 (Friday)
Maha Saptami – 5th October 2019 (Saturday)
Maha Ashtami – 6th October 2019 (Sunday)
Maha Navami – 7th October 2018 (Monday)
Bijaya Dashami – 8thOctober 2019 (Tuesday)-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 Parishad | Huda Grounds – Sector 56 (Opp More store ) | https://www.facebook.com/BangiyaParishadGurgaon/ |
Maruti Vihar Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee | Community Center, Maruti Vihar, Chakkarpur | https://www.facebook.com/MarutiViharSD/ |
Dakshin Gurgaon Puja Committee | H Block, Opposite F Block Market,South City 2 | http://www.dgpc.in/ |
Palam Vihar Durgotsav – 2019 | Community Centre, Sec 23 A (Nest to Columbia Asia Hospital) | https://www.facebook.com/events/449920638950089/ |
Purbapalli Durgotsav | Sector 15, Part II | https://www.facebook.com/purbapalli/ |
Sri Sri Durga Puja Samity | Rail Vihar, Sector 47, | https://www.facebook.com/Sri-Sri-Durga-Puja-Samiti-Rail-Vihar-Sector-47-Gurgaon-204684356367475/ |
Ankur Cultural Society | HUDA Community Centre, Sector 56(Opp Apollo Clinic ) | https://www.facebook.com/AnkurGurgaon/ |
Kendriya Vihar Durga Puja | Sector 56 | |
DLF 5 Club Puja | DLF 5 | https://www.facebook.com/events/389556198652937/ |
Sahashrabdi Durga Puja Samity | Greenwood City , Sector 45 | https://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 the 2nd / 3rd October , Thursday , where Bengali Home Chefs would 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.
You may also visit the Puja Pandals in Delhi especially CR Park , Matri Mandir ,Kali Bari, Minto Road to name a few , but again try and visit them early , maybe during the day or if your are adventurous enough then late night .
Happy Puja Pandal Hopping this year and do let us how was your experience
Few pandals have shared their schedule
