It is that time of the year again. Despite the dust kicking off all the feet walking into Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park, a whiff of the ‘pujo pujo gondho’ (scent of Durga Puja) is unmissable — a heady mix of the sweet aroma of blooming shiuli flowers, the earthy smell from the clay idols and the woody notes of the ‘dhuno’ (incense made from Sal tree resin). The veil has been lifted, and you know Durga is home.

Three out of the over 10 puja pandals — K Block (cooperative), B-Block and Mela Ground — in the predominantly Bengali neighbourhood in South Delhi mark their golden jubilees. The celebrations began on the fourth day of Navratri — two days earlier than usual — with cultural programmes.

For this milestone year, all the three pandals have dipped into their Bengali roots for the themes.

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