Faith is above and beyond any religion. As the country soaked in festive fervour for nine days, one of the most celebrated Durga Puja pandals, organised by the Mukerji family, was seen in all its grandeur. Celebrities visited the pandal to seek blessings from Maa Durga and posed for pictures with Kajol and Tanishaa Mukerji.
Although this year saw a major increase in the turnout of celebrities at the pandal, from Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal to Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Seema Sajdeh and Soha Ali Khan, the celebrations also witnessed several memorable moments.
On the day of Dussehra, photos and videos from the pandal went viral, capturing moments from the vibrant traditions of Durga Puja and Navratri. Soha Ali Khan was seen performing Dhunuchi Naach, while the actress also gave fans a peek into how she celebrated Dussehra, from the traditional ritual of Kanya Pujan to the festivities at home.
Soha Ali Khan visited the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in an ethnic orange-coloured saree. She also performed the Dhunuchi dance to the rhythmic beats of the dhaak.
Soha Ali Khan also performed puja rituals at her home, including Kanya Pujan with her daughter. She captioned the post, “For the beats of the dhaak, the dhunuchi dance, the mishti, the sarees and sindoor, and that unmistakable feeling of coming home… happy Durga Pujo!!”
Apart from Soha Ali Khan, Seema Sajdeh, Alvira Khan Agnihotri and Neelam Kothari also attended the pandal, posed with Kajol and sought blessings from Maa Durga.
Karan Johar was also seen with his children, Roohi and Yash. In one of the clips, Yash touched Manish Malhotra’s feet as a mark of respect.
What is Dhunuchi Naach?
Dhunuchi Naach, a traditional Bengali dance performed during Durga Puja, is known for its vibrant movements and spiritual significance. Devotees perform the dance while holding dhunuchis, traditional incense burners filled with burning coconut husk and incense, creating a smoky atmosphere accompanied by the rhythmic beats of the dhaak. The dance is often performed during the festival’s evening rituals and remains an important part of Bengali cultural celebrations.
