The North Bombay Sarbojanik Durga Puja, now in its 80th year and rooted in Bengali tradition, is set to recreate the sanctum of Kerala’s Guruvayoor Temple as the spiritual heart of this year’s celebrations. The pandal at SNDT, Juhu Tara Road, will feature an intricately crafted replica of the shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu, serving as the setting for Maa Durga’s worship.
Renowned artisans from Kolkata have been commissioned to create the idol — the protima, in authentic swaroop, drawing on centuries-old Bengal-based idol-making practices. The event, part of Mumbai’s broader Durga Puja festivities scheduled from October 16 to 20, will unfold with traditional rituals, cultural programmes, and community gatherings. One distinctive element remains unchanged: the ritual lifting of the idol into place using a forklift, a practice that has become emblematic of the puja’s blend of reverence and modernity.
This year, however, the celebration carries a quiet weight. Three members of the extended family associated with the puja. Rono Mukherjee, Debu Mukherjee, and Shibani Maulik, have passed away recently. Samrat Mukerji, a descendant of the family that established Filmistan and Filmalaya studios, said the community is committed to preserving the traditions that define the event while honoring those who helped build it.
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