Jonaki Bhattacharya, Pune resident for 50 yrs, who introduced Anando Mela to the city

“My husband, Nayan Ranjan Bhattacharya and I came to Pune from South India when he switched jobs to join Sandvik Asia, an engineering company based in Pune. Although he passed away 40 years ago, I have continued to make this city my home. I’m now approaching my 50th year here,” said Jonaki.

The most significant moment for her this year, Jonaki said, is the parallel jubilation of her 84th birthday with the Durgotsav event. She said, “It’s quite a remarkable coincidence that as we commemorate the 84th Greater Pune Sarbojanin Durgotsav, I will also be celebrating my 84th birthday next month.”

Anando Mela, an essential component of Durga pandals, tantalises visitors with a variety of offerings, spanning from non-vegetarian dishes to traditional Bengali desserts. Visitors flock to the mela to relish the tastes of their home state cuisine. Jonaki Bhattacharya, a founding figure of Anando Mela in the city in the 1980s, explained that when the concept of Anando Mela was still unfamiliar in Pune, she introduced the idea to the city.

Jonaki, the eldest one within the organisation, stands as one of its most dedicated members, unwavering in her commitment to upholding and nurturing Bengal’s rich traditions and cultures in Pune. Each year, during the spirited Durga festival celebrations held at Congress Bhavan in Pune, she plays a crucial role in fostering this cultural legacy.

“Now that I’ve completed my household responsibilities, I aspire to make a meaningful contribution to society. Life is not just about ‘you’, it’s about ‘us’ and this is what people need to recognise,” she said.

Jonaki has two sons, one living in the US and the other in Australia. She said that at this stage in life, when many people place their parents in old age homes, she feels like she’s living as if she were a queen.

During her conversation with The Indian Express, she said, “I enjoy the Durga festival every year, but this year feels even more special because I had the opportunity to meet my children’s friends, and they appreciated me while reminiscing about their school days.”

Jonaki elaborated on how being an independent woman in Pune at her age poses no challenge but rather brings enjoyment, particularly during Durga celebrations. “I have been a dedicated participant in the BSS Durga celebration at Congress Bhavan since coming to Pune. I visit the pandal twice a day on my own and return home at night after Durga Mahotsav concludes,” Jonaki said.