Navaratri, Durga Pujo and Dussehra celebrates the home coming of daughters representing the celebratory welcome given to Goddess Devi to her birth place…
Several communities in the city celebrate the festival by observing an eight or nine day fast and worshipping the different ‘avatars’ of the goddess. Indulging in lavish events, dressing up in colourful clothes for the garba and enjoying the prasad (bhog) goes with the enjoyable pandal hopping.
Pune365 curates a list of destinations in the city that are not commercial events and is open to devotees from all over.
Congress Bhawan
Celebration of Durga Puja started here in the 1940 and is one of those places which the Bengali community visits religiously during the nine days of the festival. What started with a few families, this place is now open for devotes across the city.
This place sees a lot of crowd specially on the eighth and ninth day (Ashtami and Navami) of the festival, who come here to enjoy the feel of the festival and savour the sumptuous ‘bhog’.
Address: Congress Bhavan, Near Corporation, Shivaji Nagar.
Ashapura Mata Mandir
Said to be the 1st temple of Kuldevi Ashapura Mataji outside of its native place Nadol, Rajasthan, this temple was constructed in 2017 in Pune.
Maintained by a Pune-based Jain Trust, the temple is open for devotees all days of the week. In these nine days of the festival, the temple organises various cultural programs, dandiya dance events and more every day.
Address: 621/1, Gangadham Chowk, Shatrunjay Mandir Road, Opposite Aai Mata Mandir, Bibwewadi.
Maha Laxmi Mandir
This revered temple, the Maha Laxmi Mandir is wonderfully decorated for the Navaratri festival. During this period, 15,000 school students gather to chant the Shrisukt / Atharvashirsh at the Mandir.
They also do a special ‘Kanya Poojan’ during Navaratri and girl students are given school essentails in the form of Prasad.
To avoid the hassle of waiting, one can also book seats for the different puja, ceremonies, aarti, havan and even for prasad on their website.
Address: Plot No. 38/B, Shukrawar Peth, Opposite Sarasbaug.
Kali Bari
For a regular visitor, this place holds a special bond. All the Bengali rituals here are celebrated according to the traditions and customs and is a great place to visit in Pune during Durga Puja to remind you of West Bengal.
The main events start from the fifth day of the festival. One can witness everything from the ‘Devi Bodhan’ to ‘Sandhi Puja’, ‘Balidan’ to ‘Sindoor Khela’.
As in the previous years, various events will be organised and artists from across the country will be invited.
Address: 254-B, Park Road, Range Hills, Khadki Cantonment.
The Bengalee Association
The Bengalee Association- Pune is celebrating their 38th Durgaotsav for which they have a comprehensive line-up in store.
Apart from the Aarti, Pushpanjali, Prasad and Bhog Distribution, one can also enjoy the entertainment programs that are scheduled for 8PM every day.
Address: Mauli Garden, 274/2 Baner Road, near Hotel Mahabaleshwar, Baner.
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