Kajol, Rani Mukherji, Shaan, Debina Bonnerjee, Gurmeet Choudhary, Sumona Chakravarti, Debu Mukerji, Sharbani Mukherji, and others graced the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samiti 2021. This is one of the oldest and the biggest Durga Puja in Mumbai.

Due to the ongoing effects of the Coronavirus, the puja organizers opted for a digital format consecutively for the second year in a row. The Durga Puja adhered to strict norms, and only double vaccination people were allowed inside the puja premises.

The members decided to take their puja to the people through live streaming and social media. In this way, the people could watch the Durga Puja. They were concerned that with crowded pandals, many might get infected by the deadly virus. So they decided to go virtual.

Kajol said that due to unprecedented times they took this unprecedented action of going virtual. The actress praised this endeavor of the Durga Puja committee.

This year they have reduced the idol to 4ft and 6ft with the crown. The elder members were requested to stay at home. In fact, members were only allowed to visit the pandal in small batches adhering to social distancing norms. Unfortunately, outsiders, bhog, prasad, and flowers were strictly prohibited to avoid physical contact. There will be two hours of morning Anjali without flowers and two hours of sandhya aarti.

Priyanka Dutta