The famous Durgapuja at Mukherjee family in Bollywood:-
Before 64years, the Santacruz In Mumbai was totally different from today. It looked like a rural area. In that period the great producer of hindi cinema Mr. Sashdhar Mukhopadhya stayed in “Grotto Villa” at West Santacruz. Sashdhar Mukhopadhya and his wife Sati Devi were very much religious in mind. One day all Bengalis of Santacruz came to Mr. Mukhopadhya and requested to organize a Durga Puja in that place. The puja of Shivaji Park was very famous in that time. So Mr. Mukhopadhya gladly accepted their proposal . He was the first President of that Puja Committee. The budget was not more than one thousand in first year. Though the value of one thousand was huge amount in that era. This Puja was named as “Sashdhar Mukhopadhya’s Puja” as he was a popular person.This is the background of famous “Mukherjee Family’s Puja” in Mumbai.
The elder son of Sashdhar Mukhopadhya is Rono Mukhopadhya. He told that though his father was the President of that Puja but his mother was all in all. She used to organize and manage that programme beautifully by gathering all Bengali house-wives. She had also a God gifted sweet and melodious voice. She used to take initiative to organize a cultural programme in the time of Puja. She was the sister of three great legends- Ashoke Kumar, Anup Kumar and Kishore Kumar. They also participated in that programme.
Mr. Rono Mukhopadhya also added emotionally that Hemanta Mukherjee was an another member of their Puja Committee. He joined the Puja with his family- wife Bela Mukherjee, son Jayanta and daughter Ranu. Many more dignitaries were present in that Puja. Pradip Kumar, Mousumi Chatterjee, Sachin Dev Burman, Gita Dutt, Balraj Sahni, Guru Dutt, Mehmood, Sanjeev Kumar, Rakhi- each an every artist glowed the stage of the “Mukherjee Family.” Instead of these persons, the information will be incomplete if these names are not mentioned. The great legend Amitabh Bachchan , Jaya Bachchan come every year still now. The Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar spent her valuable time by simply sitting and chatting hour after hour.
The budget of this Puja is gradually increasing. This year, it is 1.5 crores. The Puja becomes very large. Now the Puja is organized in “Bulkenji House” in Juhu Tara Road. The total area of Puja Pandal and dinning place are furnished with fully air condition. The ground of the pandal is wrapped by wooden slice for the visitors. Every day 10 to 15 thousands people will sit to take “Bhog” and the menu is also changed in every day. In that time, inspite of their glamorous life, all the members of the “Mukherjee Family” participate with general public. They all play various roles for the Puja. Some of them serve “Bhog”, decorate “Noibedya”, distribute “Prasad.”
Kajol, the famous Bollywood queen told that she always participates in this time. The “Sindur Khela” in Vijaya Dashomi is one of the most favourite attractions for her. Her mother Tanuja and husband, the action guy Ajay Devgan and their kids Nysa and Yug also enjoy this occasion. The last year, the another grand daughter of Sashdhar Mukhopadhya, the husky lady Rani Mukherjee inaugurated the Puja in Shashthi by performing “Aarati” and the Dhak was played by the king of melody, Bappi Lahiri. Rani is very emotional for this Puja. She wears Bengali Saree in every four days and pay her “Anjali” in the day of Ashtomi.
The famous actor of old hindi movies Mr. Deb Mukherjee is selected as the secretory for this year. He told that the theme of this year is “NavaDurga.” The total pandel decoration is made by the drawing of many Durga faces. An 11X12 feet giant screen is placed for showing the entire Puja and cultural programme. This year the songs will be performed by Runa Laila, Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan ect. The main characteristic of this Puja is to maintain the actual Bengali culture. The purohit and Dhaki has brought from Kolkata. The pandal is also made by a Bengali artist. Actually without the touch of Bengal, the Puja of “Mukherjee Family” can not get the fulfillment.
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