This year Saptarshi Sangha celebrated its 19th Durga Puja autumnal festival with full fervour on a wider canvas, at the Sector-50 Community Centre. Every evening, the adjoining link road was converted into a “Food Street” with many reputed food brands, delectable cuisines, and oodles of eating options. It was a huge hit with residents and families flocking the gourmet’s paradise with its array of mouth-watering feasts on all the Puja days.
The spacious Matri Mandir was recreated in the open courtyard, embellished with traditional folk artifacts and décor of rural Bengal showcasing artistry and cultural ethos. Panels of artwork, knick-knacks and posters had been sourced and painted by the gifted lady members.
The divine idol of Ma Durga was in the iconic wide-eyed “Baghbazar” style, and built with bamboo, clay, reed pith and straw – all eco-friendly materials, sans the use of any synthetics.
The festival opened with the 7th edition of the “Saptarshi Mudra Group Dance Competition” on 19 October. The Chief Guest for the event was Guru Sharon Lowen, the acclaimed Odissi and Chhau exponent and teacher. Twelve teams from across NCR performed mesmerizing folk dances. On other nights the stage for the performing arts came alive with a kaleidoscope of aesthetic performances by in-house singers and professional artistes.
The collective effort was to hold a joyous fiesta for devotees, families, and friends – celebrating oneness of the soul, is the true spirit of the season; thereby recreating the magic of “One for All and All for One” offering obeisance to the Holy Mother who continues to bless us children through the cycle of life.
