Festive Fervour

It’s been almost a week since the Navaratri celebrations began. But it is only now, on Mahasaptami day, that members are catching the festive fever. The reasons are obvious. Right across the road, in Lokhandwala Garden No 2, a four-day mega Durga Puja fiesta takes off today.
Kishor Babani informed that, beginning this afternoon, free lunch would be served at the pandal as ‘bhog’. Yusuf Rassiwala wants to know if and when Sonu Nigam would be singing there and whether special entry passes would be required to attend the function. Pratap Bhatt, who has a few Bengali friends in that Garden, came up with some interesting details of what promises to be a major cultural extravaganza.
From a Mexican band performing this evening to fashion shows lined up for the next three days, to gyrating Baul singers from Calcutta and assorted Bollywood stars doing their song-and-dance numbers, there’s a lot to look forward. The highlight of the evenings (soon after the sandhya-arati) would be a spectacular, ear-splitting 40-piece ‘dhaak orchestra’ with bare-bodied percussionists from Murshidabad dancing in unison in front of the Durga idol.
In all this, Monthi Serrao (left) has turned out to be an unlikely VIP of sorts. She is being most sought after as she had obliged a few friends last year with entry passes for the stage shows. It seems she gets these passes in lieu of advertisements placed with the organizers of the Puja. Now everybody wants a pass from her. Let’s hope members understand that it is not humanly possible to please all the people all the time.
Happy Durga Puja!

Renu Babani says:
Yes, the festive season is here and whereever you go, the atmosphere just gets to you. Everyone seems to be celebrating in their own way and enjoying all the activities around them. India is one place where you can really enjoy yourself during this time of year, in comparison to abroad, where the atmosphere is so different. We Mumbaikars know how to celebrate and we do it in ishtyle!
--Renu