A new venue at SNDT Juhu has been announced for the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja. The press conference detailed how the location will offer enhanced facilities and a more spacious setting for this year’s festivities.
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00:00With the blessing of Mahadurga, Boddhar school also flourished a lot.
00:05Then we went to Balkanjiwadi.
00:08In Balkanjiwadi, that also was very small, a small place.
00:13But with Maha's blessing, even that area also flourished and became very big today.
00:18Then we thought Tulip star, nothing is going to happen in Tulip star,
00:22because of the big area and lot of litigation and all.
00:28But with Maha's blessing, again that area also has flourished a lot.
00:32So we don't have a choice but to come to SNDT college now.
00:36That is our new venue.
00:38This venue, compared to Tulip star, is much, much, much bigger.
00:45Eva Pandal was there 100 feet.
00:48Today it is 150 feet.
00:5180 feet, we have got about 200 feet.
00:54To land, bread, parking point, every point of view,
00:58SNDT is definitely more expensive.
01:02And more expensive, better location I would say.
01:05Expensive of course is there.
01:07You have been to all this and the largest theater in the world.
01:11Now we move to a bigger venue.
01:14What is the theme this year that we have?
01:17Theme? What is theme, Tamara?
01:21Moroccan.
01:25So this time, like every year we have a certain theme.
01:28So this time we are trying to do something different.
01:31It could be like a Moroccan type of a theme.
01:34But that will not let go of our culture,
01:38which is going to be more present over here, our traditions.
01:41That won't change.
01:43It's going to be more beautiful, more bigger.
01:47This is the new venue.
01:49We want the world to see us in a new place, in a new way.
01:53And I hope this year we shall go beyond everybody's expectations.
01:59So let's see.
02:01May I not hear what he has to say?
02:04Not on the theme, but one thing, just to add to what Shaunrat is saying.
02:09What we are doing differently this year is that...
02:11One minute, let the plane pass.
02:18We are stepping up the efforts on the social media front.
02:23Our puja already is the world's most digitally watched puja.
02:27It's just that it was not consolidated.
02:31So this year we are stepping up the efforts further.
02:33The idea is that anybody, any Bengali, or for that matter,
02:37any person who follows Durgama can watch whatever we are doing
02:42on various social media channels, be it Insta, YouTube, everywhere.
02:46So that is another new thing that we have been really stepping up our efforts.
02:50Last year was our first real year where we did something new.
02:54This year we are going to make it much bigger.
02:56The digital scale of this puja is going to go up a few notches this year.
03:10The puja fever has already started.
03:12You can see the construction is happening here.
03:15Sorry.
03:20So preparations have already started. The construction has started.
03:23The other puja preparations where the rituals are going to happen,
03:26that also has been upgraded in a lot of ways.
03:29And the stage is going to be a little different this time.
03:32So you feel that even though we have advanced to a different venue,
03:37but the tradition and the gharwa feeling is still going to be there.
03:41I think a lot more crowd can come here this year,
03:44because the area is much, much bigger.
03:46So we are wishing all the best for our puja here.
03:50Where we used to feed, say about a thousand people,
03:54in one batch we can feed about 1500 people.
03:57So that is a big thing.
03:59Each batch will get 15, about 4-5 batches.
04:02The thing gets faster, more faster.
04:04What I would like to add is, I think it is more accessible for people.
04:08This is more central.
04:10And there also, there was a little bit of limitation of space,
04:14and I think we can cater to more people here.
04:17Everybody desires to come and have a look.
04:19I think we can cater to everyone.
04:21We would request everybody to please come and visit Ma.
04:24And she is beautiful every year.
04:27And we have something really special coming up this year.
04:30So talking about performances,
04:33we have the land-many, free-terms,
04:37and every year there is a variety of...
04:41This year we have, you see,
04:44unfortunately this year there are only three days of entertainment.
04:48There is no more entertainment.
04:51There is no more entertainment.
04:53There is no more entertainment.
04:55There is no more entertainment.
04:57There are only three days of entertainment.
04:59There is Naomi and Ashwini.
05:01Naomi and Ashwini fall on the same day.
05:04So we have lost one day.
05:06We got only three days for entertainment this time.
05:09And two days for go.
05:11Once Ma goes away, you can't have go.
05:14So...
05:15Sorry.
05:16So you can't have go on those days.
05:19So one day we have lost.
05:21So on Sushri we have got Pawan Kumar,
05:23the Indian Idol singer is Pawan Kumar.
05:27Second day we got Dalit mainly.
05:29We'll have a little Bhangra over there.
05:32And free-terms is...
05:35There are the three days we'll have.
05:49Firstly, Debu uncle, pranam.
05:51Pranam.
05:52Secondly, this is a family tradition of sorts for us.
05:56And we're very happy that it's shifted to vicinity.
05:59Although we're going to miss the whole venue.
06:01But, you know, everyone says change is uncomfortable.
06:05I'm looking at the best side of this.
06:07And I'm very, very excited about Durga Puja like every year.
06:10We've put in a lot of effort, a lot of hard work.
06:13These people have worked incessantly to make this happen.
06:17So this year is going to be a different one.
06:19But I can assure you all that it's going to be as good as ever.
06:23Even better.
06:25The main thing is the change of venue.
06:28Because we have a footfall of over a lakh of people
06:31in a Durga Puja every day.
06:33Now that one, people will go to Tulip Star.
06:37I want those people to know through the press and through your media
06:40is what I want to say.
06:42That the venue has changed. This is what has to be hammered.
06:45That one lakh of people, they don't go to Tulip Star
06:48and go back disappointed.
06:50So they should know that it's not there, it's gone to SNDT College.
06:53Which I request the press of you to please hammer this point
06:57that the Puja is at SNDT College.
07:00Thank you. That's all.
07:01And one point to add, like the hallmark of our Puja is the Bhog.
07:04If you ask, let's say, Debu Dhaka Samrat,
07:07the first thing that we talk about is the Bhog of our Puja.
07:10And the feedback over the years has been...
07:19So, our Bhog has grown bigger and bigger every year.
07:24And that was also one of the reasons to shift to this venue.
07:28So we would like all of you to also broadcast the message
07:32that we have a much bigger venue for the Bhog
07:34which is the most special thing for all of us.
07:41Another thing I would like to point out is that
07:43the Puja timings are very, very early this time,
07:46very early in the morning.
07:48So any devotee who is interested in coming for the Puja
07:51has to come here by 6, 6.30 because that's when the Puja will start
07:54and the timings are very limited.
07:57So people who come for Shundi Puja, that is in the morning,
08:00that starts from 6.24 am.
08:03So that is very important that you all know
08:05that it is a very limited time, it's all in the morning, early morning.
08:13How do you feel about the new venue?
08:17Well, change is always important.
08:20Change should happen in life.
08:22And change is something very new.
08:26And it is the blessing of Maa Durga.
08:29She wants something new,
08:32new people should come together.
08:35So it's very important.
08:37And I feel that you all should be doing that.
08:40It will be a good Puja.
08:42Everyone is working hard.
08:44All the members are working hard.
08:46And senior citizens are working very hard for this Puja.
08:50All the people, the youngsters, the youth, everybody.
08:53It's a teamwork together.
08:55And we try to do something different every year.
08:58So this year will also be good.
09:00It is the blessing of Maa Durga.
09:02And it's a very historical Puja.
09:05This is not today's Puja.
09:07I think we are the fourth or fifth generation.
09:09The first generations, the Lahiris, are in this Puja.
09:12My grandparents.
09:14And of course, Mukherjee uncle, Dadu and Krishna.
09:17And my grandparents.
09:19And then my father, Bapu Lahiri.
09:22And then Reema Bapu Lahiri.
09:24So it's the fourth, fifth generation who is carrying on this legacy.
09:29Of course, it's a new venue.
09:32And it will be good.
09:34Everyone is working hard.
09:36Please come to the Puja.
09:39Enjoy the Puja.
09:40Be with us.
09:41And if you forget something, please forgive us.
09:44No, we won't forgive you.
09:49It's only going to be bigger and better.
09:51That's all. Look forward to bigger and better.
10:07I know this Puja is going to be a great Puja.
10:10Because we are coming from a different location right now.
10:14And we are going to come up with a Puja.
10:17And it's going to be really good this year.
10:20And I'm really grateful to everybody who is working so hard to do this Puja.
10:26And I want to thank all the members, everybody.
10:29The workers, the people who are here.
10:32Everybody.
10:34Thank you very much.
10:36And a big thank you to Debu Kaka.
10:38He is the founder of the Puja.
10:41Everybody in the Mukherjee family is the founder of the Puja.
10:45And I hope you all will enjoy the Puja.
10:48And we will see you all there.
10:51One thing I want to add about Rego.
10:55At the age of 13, this man, this boy,
10:59contributed one lakh from his own income to this Puja.
11:04And a 13-year-old boy contributing a lakh of rupees.
11:07And he does a very big thing.
11:10He deserves a big hand.
11:20Please come. S&T is a new venue. Please come.
11:23Master.
11:37So we are looking forward to seeing you.
11:39Like we said, we promise you we are giving a better place.
11:43And also for parking there is some more space.
11:45And food is going to be fabulous every year.
11:47And even better.
11:49So looking forward to seeing you all. Please do come.
11:52Since we have a day less in this year's Puja.
11:54Yes.
11:55So we have Bhog on 9th November also?
11:57No. Only two days.
12:02When Ma is not there, you can't have a Bhog.
12:05On the day she is here, you have Bhog.
12:08When she is gone, then no point having Bhog.
12:11So 10th and 11th are the two days of Bhog.
12:1310th and 11th.
12:14Of October.
12:1510th October and 11th October.
12:17You can have Bhog otherwise, but it has no meaning.
12:21We will have beautiful stalls also.
12:23Yes, we have stalls.
12:25We have about 30 stalls over there.
12:27Everything will be the same.
12:28Only that the location is different.
12:30That's it. Otherwise everything is going to be better.
12:32You can see the layout.
12:34It is massive.
12:36Devi Pandal is that side.
12:38These are the stalls over there.
12:40All the adjectives. Bigger, better, glamorous, tasty.
12:44Everything.
12:46See you all.
12:53You go on.
12:59Shall I begin?
13:00Yes.
13:18Love me.
13:21Sit close to me.
13:26Confess to me.
13:31Love me.
13:36Give me all your love.
13:40Good one.
13:41See.
13:46What is your name?
13:51Well.
13:53I have my mother's blessings.
13:57I will take her blessings.
14:12You called me.
14:14Lioness.
14:17I came.
14:18I came.
14:19Lioness.
14:21Oh, Jodhawali.
14:24Oh, Baharawali.
14:27Oh, Merawali.
14:30You called me.
14:32Lioness.
14:35I came.
14:36I came.
14:37Lioness.
14:39Jai Mataji.
14:43As Rehma didi rightly said,
14:45Maa Arjun ne gaat chhi amra.
14:48So I would like to sing.
14:50Absolutely.
14:51And I would like to sing a few lines
14:53as a homage to Maa coming
14:56and making all our lives better.
14:58Whoever knows, please join in.
15:00Of course, I am sure you all might not be knowing it
15:03but still I will give it a shot.
15:07Jago.
15:10Tumi jago.
15:16Jago Durga.
15:19Jago daso praran dhare.
15:26Abhaya sakti.
15:28Balo pradayini.
15:30Tumi jago.
15:34Jago.
15:37Tumi jago.
15:43Balo balo Durga Mai ki.
15:45Jai.
15:46Balo balo Durga Mai ki.
15:47Jai.
15:48Balo balo Durga Mai ki.
15:49Jai.