Puja has well and truly begun. Tens of thousands of people are out on the roads at any given time of the day for a taste of the greatest confluence of art, faith, tradition and innovation. But for the devout and the not-so, the real festival begins on Friday, Sashthi. Before slipping into five days of fun, feasting, prayers and hours of nothing to do, here’s a lowdown of what you might expect
CLEAR BLUE
The sky is tipped to be bright and sunny at least till Ashtami (Monday). Dry winds from northwestern India have started flowing into Kolkata. Late-nights and early mornings will even be marked by a nip in the air, the Met office has said.
A low-pressure area is likely to take shape over central Bay of Bengal on Friday. The central bay is too far from Bengal for the system to have any significant impact until Navami, by when it is expected to come closer to the coastline. “Kolkata and some districts of south Bengal are likely to be affected on October 23 and 24 (Navami and Dashami),” said a Met official. The sky is expected to remain “generally cloudy” on both days.
ROADS
Several road restrictions and no-parking zones have been introduced for the Durga Puja days, whose details are available on the Kolkata traffic police website.
GOODS VEHICLES
All goods vehicles, except those associated with emergency services, shall be prohibited to ply in the city on the following days:
October 20 (Sashthi): From 8am on October 20 to 3am on October 21 October 21
(Saptami): From 8am on October 21 to 4am on October 22
October 22 (Ashtami): From 7am on October 22 to 4am on October 23 October 23
(Navami): From 8am on October 23 to 4am on October 24
POLICE DEPLOYMENT
More than 14,000 personnel from various units will be on the roads on the Puja days, apart from the normal deployment. Fifty-eight watchtowers and multiple police pickets have been set up near the big pandals.
Heavy radio flying squads, radio flying squads, mobile patrols, disaster management group teams and ambulances will be on the roads, officers said.
HELPLINES
• Emergency helpline: 100
• Lalbazar control room: 22143230
• Traffic control room:
• Traffic police helpline: 9830010000
• Children’s helpline: 1098
• Missing person’s squad: 22505153, 22141430
• Fire: 101 n Fire brigade control room: 22861570, 22521165
• Ambulance: 102
• CESC: 9831079666, 9831083700, 1912
• WBSEDCL: 19121
TRANSPORT
Government buses will ply in greater numbers to cater to the Puja demand. Private bus operators have said their full fleet will be on the roads. Autos have been asked to withdraw services. Metered taxis and app-cabs, including those that have joined the newly launched government initiative, Yatri Sathi, will be available round-the-clock.
METRO
NORTH-SOUTH LINE
The first and last trains will leave at 6.50am and 10.50pm on Friday (Sashthi). On Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Saptami, Ashtami and Navami), the first and last trains will leave the terminal stations at 1pm and 4am. On Dashami, the first and last trains will leave at 1pm and 10pm.
Sashthi: Metro will run 288 trains on Friday. “During rush hours, trains will be available at an interval of five to six minutes,” said an official. The first train for Dakshineswar will leave New Garia at 6.50am. The first New Garia-bound train will leave Dakshineswar at 7am. From Dum Dum, the first New Garia-bound train will leave at 6.50am. The last Dakshineswar-bound train will leave New Garia at 10.40pm. The last Dum Dum-bound train will leave New Garia at 10.50pm. The last train for New Garia will leave Dakshineswar at 10.38pm. The last New Garia-bound train will leave Dum Dum at 10.50pm.
Saptami to Navami: Metro will run 248 trains each day. The service will start in the afternoon. The rushhour interval is expected to be “six to seven minutes”. The first train will leave for Dakshineswar from New Garia at 1pm. The first New Garia-bound train will leave both Dakshineswar and Dum Dum at 1pm. The first train for Dakshineswar will leave Dum Dum at 12.55pm. The last train for Dakshineswar will leave New Garia at 3.48am. The last train for Dum Dum will leave New Garia at 4am. The last train for New Garia will leave Dakshineswar at 3.48am. The last train for New Garia will leave Dum Dum at 4am.
Dashami: There will be 132 trains on Dashami. The first New Garia-bound trains will leave Dakshineswar and Dum Dum at 1pm. The first train for Dakshineswar will leave New Garia at 1pm. The last trains for New Garia will leave Dakshineswar and Dum Dum at 9.48pm and 10pm, respectively. The last train for Dakshineswar will leave New Garia at 9.50pm and the last train for Dum Dum at 10pm.
EAST-WEST LINE
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Saptami, Ashtami and Navami), the first trains will leave Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V at 11.55am and noon. The last trains will leave Sealdah and Sector V at 11.35pm and 11.40pm. On Dashami, the first trains will leave Sealdah and Sector V at 11.55am and noon. The last trains will leave Sealdah and Sector V at 7.35pm and 7.40pm. On the Joka-Taratala corridor, there will be no services from Saptami to Dashami, the carrier said.
TIPPLE TALE
There are no dry days. There is no restriction on off-shops, bars, pubs and clubs on the Puja days.
WHAT’S ON TREND
Fashion, this year, is all about choosing comfort. Handloom fabrics, both in womenswear and menswear, are defining the day street style or pandal hopping scenes. The evening is all about channelling understated glam in sheer fabrics with a hint of sheen and shimmer, ditching the heavily-embroidered or embellished ones.
Topping the trend-o-meter are bright monotones and the classic monochrome. While popular silhouette picks in monotones are smart western wear, Indian ethnic picks in the monochrome palette are breaking the monotony of the festive palette. However, traditional outfits are the Dashami or Ashtami favourites.
EVENTS
Some of the campaigns to select the best pujas from various PoV, in paras, in the housing complexes, through the eyes of the children or some of those who now call Kolkata their home.
• CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja, powered by Indian Institute of Hotel Management, in association with Kutchina and Chemtex Judges will go out on Sashthi andpick from an original list of around300 pujas the ones that reflect the true spirit of the Puja, making it safe, happy and meaningful for all. The focus for the selection of ModelPuja, Five Star and Four Star awardees will be on crowd management, environmental consciousness and social responsibility. The movement is in its 21st year now.
• Camellia presents TTIS ChotoChokhe Boro Pujo powered by Fridaay, Foodie Folks and Calcutta Retro
Forty school students will judge around 50 pujas. There will be awards for five categories — BestPuja, Best Idol, Best Pandal, BestInnovative Puja and Judges Choice. The young judges will shortlist the best five from among the 50.
• The Telegraph Hand in Hand in your housing complex, powered by Camelia, Jongole Mitin Mashi and Calcutta Retro
Like every year, the event comes with the promise of four days of festive fun to make pujas at housing complexes special. From dhunuchi naach to sit-and-draw contests and culinary shows, it promises something for everyone.
• PARLE TOP Anandabazar PatrikaSHAROD ARGHYA 1430
The campaign awards artisti cbrilliance in three categories — pandal, idol and overall best puja. This year, the best will be chosen from more than 450 pujas in Kolkata, Howrah and adjoining areas.
FILMS
Tollywood has big festive releases in the form of Dawshom Awbotaar, Dev’s Bagha Jatin, Koel’s Jongole Mitin Mashi and the thriller Raktabeej. In Hindi, be spoilt for choice with new releases like Tiger Shroff’s Ganapath or old favourites like Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster Jawan.
