And the more common red-stalked, little white parijat. There has also been a tradition of offering 108 lotuses during the daily puja, which goes on for five days ending with the immersion of Dussehra. Little wonder that there are at least 22 Durga Pujas held in the city. And the Bengalis here celebrate their favourite puja with zeal equalling that of their counterparts in Calcutta. The accent is obviously on revelry.
Professional artistes pitch in too.
Singer Abhijeet who organises the puja at Lokhandwala Complex never lets his audience down. The bhog distributed at the mandals is a grand affair. The Bania Agarwals worship Gauri. Rekha, wife of composer Vishal Bharadwaj, began observing Navratri after the birth of her son Aasman. I find that the puja gives very positive vibes and I want my son to understand these traditions.