Vashi Durga Puja features Rudrani idol by Sanatan Rudra Pal

Vashi Cultural Association has installed a Rudrani-form Durga idol at its 22nd Durgotsav at ICL School Ground in Sector 15, Vashi.

Sculptor Sanatan Rudra Pal, a Padma awardee, made the clay idol. Association president Subhankar Mitra said the installation follows Bengali clay-art traditions, including the elongated eyes painted during Chokkhu Daan.

The festival is scheduled from October 15 to 21 in an 80,000-square-foot pandal designed to resemble traditional Bengali mansions. The set-up includes decorative lighting from Chandannagar, near Kolkata.

Anandamela on Panchami featured homemade food. From Sasthi to Dashami, the association plans cultural evenings featuring Indian Idol runner-up Tanishk Shukla, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner Debojit Saha, Mumbai band Roots, and a tribute to Asha Bhosle by Gul Saxena and Rana Chatterjee.

The association will serve bhog prasad daily at noon and expects more than two lakh visitors. It has scheduled immersion for October 21, in line with the Bengali almanac.