India, Sept. 26 -- It's that time of the year again, when the air fills with the beats of the dhak, the aroma of festive delicacies, and the vibrant spirit of Durga Puja. From intricately designed pandals to cultural performances that light up the city, the celebration brings everyone together - from celebrities to the common reveller - in honour of Goddess Durga's triumph over evil. Actor and producer Rituparna Sengupta, associated with Mumbai's Andheri Link Road Sarbojanik Durga Puja, shares that this year's festivities will feature traditional dhakis from rural Bengal, along with performances by celebrities like singer Usha Uthup and Rituparna herself. Speaking about what's in store for Mumbaikars, the 53-year-old says, "The theme this year is ancient raj darbar. I am very upbeat about Mumbai's pujo. Today, not just Bengalis but people from diverse linguistic backgrounds participate in this festival. Previously, only traditional idols were seen at pandals, but now the diaspora is wider, giving artisans a greater opportunity to showcase their creativity." Rituparna also talks about the many aspects that make Durga Puja special: "Bhog is an integral part of Durga puja. The khichuri, labra, chutney, papad and vegetables make it wholesome. The pandals serve hundreds of people who come for darshan. Other rituals are dhunuchi dance and sandhi pujo, the aarti during a particular muhurat. It's auspicious to witness and feel. Then anjalis are offered, and on the last day we have the sindoor khela and celebration of maa Durga's journey to Kailash parbat, which is her husband's abode." This year marks 30 years of singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya's Lokhandwala Durga Puja. The 66-year-old shares, "We avoid publicity and there is no ticket or donation involved. I do it in my own capacity. The celebration is open to all and we have devotees from around the world joining in. Post-Covid, we stopped celebrity performances as it gets difficult to manage such a large crowd." Speaking about what people can look forward to this year, Abhijeet says, "The dhak performance is an attraction. 30-40 dhakis play at the same time." The Mukerji family's Durga Puja, known as the North Bombay Durga Puja, is a prominent celebration founded in 1948 and graced every year by actors Rani Mukerji, Kajol, Tanishaa Mukerji, and others. Actor Samrat Mukherjee, joint secretary of the pandal, says, "This year the theme is the Pashupatinath temple. This is our 79th year and we are doing everything to make this puja the most memorable Durga Puja of the year. There will be bhog for all, and every evening dunuchi dancers from Bengal will perform to the beats of the dhak. Every morning, anjali will be offered to all the devotees. We have famous performers on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami. Sindoor khela is also a grand event."...