What: Seagram’s Imperial Blue Packaged Drinking Water presents The Telegraph Puja Premier League 2023 powered by Indian Institute of Hotel Management
Where: Garia Mitali Sangha
Jayee Basu, HOD of Indian Institute of Hotel Management, hands over a gift hamper to Richa
The theme: Started in 1937, Garia Mitali Sangha celebrates the 83rd year of their Puja this year. Garia Mitali Sangha is famous for the Naba Durga or nine Durgas which receives a huge footfall of visitors from all across the state. Though the committee does not follow a theme every year, this year Garia Mitali Sangha follows the minimal theme of Puranic mythology which primarily centres around Shiva and Parvati. The pandal took two-and-a-half months to build and has handmade Thermocol structures of Shiva and Parvati all over it depicting different stories. In the interiors of the pandal they replicated the designs of a South Indian temple. The main avatar of the Goddess in the middle is surrounded by four avatars of Goddess Durga on each side.
The kids gracefully depict the nine avatars of Maa Durga in a well-rehearsed Mahisasuramardini dance drama which they practised for months
Organiser speak: “Every year we carry the legacy of portraying the 108 avatars of Maa Durga, among which we shuffle nine avatars of the Goddess with the Mahisasura mardini remaining constant, and install them in our mandap. This year we tried to reflect the Puranic mythology through our theme. Another special thing this year is the huge chandelier inside our mandap which is making our Maa Durga glow even better. We receive huge footfall and our committee handles the crowd of thousands very carefully with proper safety measures,” said Sayan Pal, joint secretary of Garia Mitali Sangha.
This year the Naba Durga included Devi Chandraghanta, Devi Parameshwari, Devi Ardhanareeswar, Devi Bikta, Devi Shivduti, Devi Aindri, Devi Aparajita, Devi Jaya and Mahisasuramardini
Rooting for the club is: Actress Richa Sharma. She said, “I’m associated with The Telegraph Puja Premier League for five years now and this is my first time here at Garia Mitali Sangha. I loved how the interiors of the pandal shine like a South Indian temple. The main attraction of this puja is Naba Durga or the nine avatars of Maa Durga, which is also very spiritual to go through all the avatars that depict power, strength, beauty, anger, kindness and many more. I thank you The Telegraph for this beautiful event every year and I wish everyone a happy and safe Puja.”
Sayan Pal, joint secretary of Garia Mitali Sangha
Activities: The evening included a well-rehearsed Mahisasuramardini dance drama by the kids followed by a fun discussion of daily drama at a household with the participants joined by Richa.
"I'm the boss!" said Richa Sharma when she was asked who is the boss of the house as she indulged in the fun discussion on household drama