In view of the Durga Puja festivities in and around Chittaranjan Park in South Delhi, which is often referred to as “mini Bengal’’, the Public Works Department of Delhi Government has undertaken re-carpeting of roads and scheduled the completion of the work by October 20, when the main puja would start.
The re-carpeting work was inaugurated recently by Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Ajay Maken. Chairperson of Central Zone of South Delhi Municipal Corporation and area councillor Virender Kasana said apart from the relaying of the roads, a cleanliness drive has also been planned in the area and it would involve removal of debris, repairs of streetlights and pruning of trees.
The puja festivities would begin with Mahalaya on Monday morning. In C.R. Park preparations are underway for the festivities in a big way. “There are 10 big pujas here, the oldest of which is the Mela Ground Durga Puja which is into its 38 year this time,’’ said Mr. Kasana.
Noting how most of the pandals, being made with bamboo that has been brought in from the North East, are almost complete, he said in the big pujas, the idols are being made within the pandals by artisans who have come from West Bengal.
“The artisans have been camping here for the past many days and the idols are covered from the outside so that they are only visible when complete. Even the mud for these has been brought from the Hooghly river in West Bengal,’’ he said, adding that the idols for the smaller pujas are being prepared near the venues.
At C.R. Park this year, the Delhi Police would be issuing special parking passes to the residents during the four-day period of the puja. During this time, vehicles from outside would not be permitted inside the colonies, said the councillor, and this would make the area pedestrian friendly and allow people to cover all the pandals by foot with much ease.
