PM Modi visits CR Park, attends Durga Puja celebrations

In a post on X, he wrote, “Today, on the auspicious occasion of Maha Ashtami, I went to Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park to take part in the Durga Puja celebrations. Chittaranjan Park is known for its strong association with Bengali culture. The celebrations truly reflect the spirit of unity and cultural vibrancy in our society. Prayed for everyone’s happiness and wellbeing.”

CM Rekha Gupta, meanwhile, posted on X, “On the sacred occasion of Maha Ashtami today, the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji performed rituals and worshipped Maa Durga at the Durga Puja festival organised in Chittaranjan Park, Delhi, and extended auspicious wishes for the happiness, peace, and well-being of all citizens of the country.”

Security arrangements were tightened ahead of the PM’s visit, with cars parked alongside the road removed and exit to the pandals strictly regulated.

Special arrangements for traffic management were also made. The area, with 10 Puja pandals, comes alive during the festive season.

This year, three of them — K Block (cooperative), B-Block and Mela Ground — in the predominantly Bengali neighbourhood in South Delhi mark their golden jubilees.

The Mela Ground is a rendition of Bengal’s colonial-era ‘rajbari’ (a palace or a mansion) with lofty ionic columns bearing ornate patterns in gold.

The K-Block pandal is celebrating Bengal’s rich cultural legacy by recreating the historic fortress from Satyajit Ray’s 1974 film — Sonar Kella. The theme at the puja pandal in B-Block was ‘soil’.

The oldest Durga Puja committee, however, is not in Chittaranjan Park but in Kashmere Gate and is in its 116th year.