Pre-Pujo Preparations: Behind the Scenes

The countdown to Pujo has already begun, and Bharati members have all turned into busy bees prepping for the grand celebrations. If you pass by Soi 11 or 13 on a random day of the week, you’ll most likely hear the chatter of excited voices in Bengali floating from Chowpatty or Old German Beer House, drowning the din of tourists and the live music of the bars. Or you might chance upon a group of lovely ladies decked in shimmering sarees shimmying down the corridors of some of the popular condos of Phrom Pong and Asok area.

A lot is going on these days, as Bharatians gear up to give you the best Durga Pujo experience this year. Meetings of different committees are in full force as are rehearsals of the brilliant performances that we’re planning to put up on each evening during Pujo. The weekends are packed and WhatsApp groups are abuzz with conversations on which song to use, which dance moves look the best, which color saree or kurta to wear, and most importantly, what snacks to get, because, unsurprisingly, with Bengalis, Durga Pujo equals “pet pujo.” Here are some snippets to help you catch up on the behind-the-scenes buzz and banter that’s the best part of pre-pujo preparations.

Kakoli Majumdar

Kakoli has a background in English communication and training and works in the Higher Education sector as a community builder and academic publication coach. A mum of two, Kakoli is currently an empty-nester who’s ticking off her bucket-list – travelling, writing, ziplining, freelancing as a voice artist, volunteering at a cat cafe – basically grabbing all that life has to offer.