Mumbai/Thane, Oct 17: Mumbai's 1.25 million Bengalis are all set to celebrate Durga Puja, starting Oct 20, with a liberal dose of Bollywood glamour with celebrities and commoners converging for the community's biggest religious festival in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and other suburban towns.
This year, the themes of most 'sarvajanik' (community) Durga pujas revolve around Swami Vivekananda, whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated during 2012-13, and environment awareness in view of the ecological disasters looming over humanity, said community historian and social worker Prasanta Kundu.
The celebrations this time have an added zest and pride as a Bengali has come to occupy the country's highest post for the first time - President Pranab Mukherjee.
"The entire community is proud, happy and pray for President Pranabda Mukherjee who has brought such a great honour to all of us," retired Bollywood actor Biswajit, told IANS.
At the Juhu Scheme Sarvanajik Durgotsav Samiti, which will attract over 50,000 people to worship the 14 feet tall idol, Biswajit has organised an exhibition of '100 Years of Indian Cinema' - "It is my salute to the centenary of Indian Cinema," smiled the actor.
The star-studded festivities shall be held at around 105 public marquees, up from 98 last year (2011) and 85 the previous year (2010) and estimated total spending would be around Rs.45 crore this year in view of inflation and galloping fuel prices, Kundu told IANS.
Starting Oct 20, Shashthi (sixth day), and ending Oct 24, Maha-Dashami, the Durga Puja will seen the enthusiastic participation of Bengalis living and working in Mumbai and members of other communities.
But one major personality will be missed during the Durga Puja season - Joy Mukherjee, who died earlier this year.
