Here are the Durga Puja pandals to hit in Chennai

Kolkata biryani, basanti pulao (fragrant rice), chholar dal (chana lentil), fish fry, kobiraji (cutlets), kathi roll (kebab wrapped in flaky paratha), rosogolla, machh er kaliya (fish curry), Kashmiri alu r dom (steam cooked baby potatoes), mutton kosha (mutton curry) and pineapple chutney – these are only a handful of delectables that will be served at the Durga Puja celebrations across Chennai.

As the season of Ashwin (sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar) knocks on our doors, preparations for Durga Puja are in order. Although a microcosm of the grand spectacle that ensues in Kolkata, Bengali communities in Chennai come together to recreate the flurry and fervour of the festival that they grew up witnessing.

Durga sporting the daaker saaj | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Biplob Bhakta, president of The Bengal Association in T Nagar says, “I believe we are the oldest puja in Chennai. This is our 90th year and we believe in making the puja an inclusive one where locals and other communities can also participate.join us in our celebrations Keeping this in mind we have a team of craftsmen coming in from West Bengal’s Phulia who will display Bengal handicrafts at the venue.” Rituals will stick to tradition and will be performed by a priest from Kolkata. The idol has been sculpted by sculptor Kishori Mohan Pal.