Dussehra, Sindoor Khela preps on in full swing as Navratri draws to a close

Mumbai: An overlap of ‘tithis' has caused the nine-day festival of Sharadiya Navratra to close variously over Saturday-Sunday this year. Marigold stalls have sprung up citywide for Vijayadashami or Dussehra that will be celebrated Saturday. Ravana effigies will be set afire at the close of Ramlila.
Several Durga Puja pandals, though, will end festivities on Sunday with the colourful Sindoor Khela ceremony followed by idol immersion.
Temples and Navratra pandals organised ‘hom havan' fire sacrifices Friday, while Puja pandals performed Sandhi Puja. Little Madhuprita Chakraborty dressed in red finery was worshiped as Goddess Durga at the Kumari Puja ritual in Koparkhairane.
In Siddharth Nagar, Goregaon, the women-led Ananda Utsav Durga Puja is conducting a tree plantation drive, and hosting Sufi folk and film music shows by Deene Khan of the Manganiyar community and Keka Ghoshal. "Our Puja was inaugurated by three women — an actor, a school principal and merchant navy captain," said president Gargi Chattopadhyay. Similarly in Andheri (E), the Mahakali Mahila Welfare Association (MMWA) is celebrating Ananya Nari Durga Puja, calling it ‘Mother's worship by mothers'.
The Vikhroli Bengali Association is organising its 59th Durgotsav within a Bengali ‘bari' style pandal, said youth group head Suman Pandit. Hand painted murals embellish household items like baskets and winnowing fans. Maharashtrian Warli paintings and Bengali ‘alpana' add to its decor. VBA will conduct a blood donation camp Saturday.
Chembur Durga Puja Association's (CDPA) 70th Durgotsav is underway at RCF Ground. Joint secretary Arnob M said, "Our ‘sholaa kaaj' decoration is by artisans from Bengal. On Friday, we did Sandhi Puja or ‘Sandhikhon' where Goddess Shakti is worshiped in the formidable Chamunda form." A performance by Jolly Mukherjee, bhog prasad and entertainment shows are highlights here.
In Mulund, the Bengal Institute of Art and Culture is holding its Puja at Vaishali Nagar. Subal Kumar Saha, general secretary, said, "We have bhog prasad distribution by self service system. There are stalls selling various items apart from cultural programmes and aarti every evening."