“Durga Puja is the biggest festival for our Bengalis and even for the people living in all parts of India. Today is Navratri day and it is the most auspicious day for us. The Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, which symbolises the victory of good over evil.

Back in 1900’s a small group of Bengalis had made Hyderabad its home, having come here to work. Our family was one among the settlers who have been here for more than six decades. Thus, came into being, the Hyderabad Kalibari Bengali Samity.

All the nine days of the festival holds a special place in our heart and on the tenth day, we perform the visarjan ceremony. We all dress up in new clothes in the peak four days of the festival known as Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Navami and Vijaya Dashami. It’s truly overwhelming to see people come in huge numbers to visit the pandals every year and it certainly motivates the organisers like us to make better arrangements.”