Noida, 14thOctober, 2024: Cleo County’s Durga Puja has a way of tugging at your heartstrings, especially for those who’ve grown up with the sound of dhaak and the smell of fresh shiuli flowers marking the beginning of autumn. It’s not a grand pandal with lavish decorations like some of the others you find across Delhi. Instead, it’s a humble gathering of Bengali families who come together to create a Puja that feels like home—intimate, familiar, and filled with love.
“When I first moved to Delhi, I used to visit the bigger pandals in CR Park and Kashmere Gate,” says, a resident, but the one here at Cleo County is different. It’s not about the show—it’s about the community. We don’t just attend; we participate in everything, from making the flower garlands to preparing the bhog. It takes me right back to my childhood, where everyone had a role, and Puja wasn’t something you watched; it was something you lived.”
What sets Cleo County’s Durga Puja apart is the feeling that everyone’s involved, whether it’s reciting the pushpanjali prayers, organizing the cultural programs, or serving the traditional khichuri bhog. You won’t find the glitz of the CR Park pandals here, but you’ll find the warmth of shared memories, laughter, and stories that make this Puja unforgettable.
“I remember, last year, after the sandhi puja, we all sat down for dinner together. Someone’s grandmother told us tales of how they celebrated back in their village, and it was like the entire room was transported back to Bengal,” recalls Mrs Sen. That’s what makes this Puja different—you don’t just celebrate, you reminisce.”
Even Runki Goswami, the well-known classical singer who resides in Cleo County, is deeply immersed in the spirit of this Puja. Despite her public life, Durga Puja here is a time for her to reconnect with her roots. “Every year, I look forward to this Puja,” she shares. “It reminds me of home, the simplicity of our family gatherings, and the pure devotion that made our puja special. Cleo County brings that same feeling, where everyone knows everyone, and it feels like one big family coming together.”
While other pandals in Delhi may boast celebrity performances and elaborate decorations, Cleo County’s Puja is special for its heartfelt simplicity. It’s a place where you’re not just a spectator, but a part of the tradition. The mothers chat in the kitchen while stirring the payesh, the children rehearse for their play in the evening, and the men debate over cricket after the aarti.
“This Puja feels like a bridge between where we come from and where we are now,” says another resident. “No matter where life takes us, Cleo County’s Puja brings us home.”
The other cherished highlight of the Puja here is the dhunuchi dance. As the evening aarti begins and the rhythmic beats of the dhaak intensify, men and women alike gather with dhunuchis in hand, swaying to the beats in perfect harmony. It’s not just the women in their elegant taant sarees who take part—here, the men join in just as enthusiastically, clad in their crisp dhotis and kurta, performing the energetic dance that is equal parts prayer and celebration.
“I’ve seen dhunuchi naach at other pandals across Delhi, but here it feels so personal,” says Mr. Mukherjee, when I see the men step forward, lifting the dhunuchi and moving with such grace, it reminds me of my father and uncles back home, and who always led the dance with pride.”
In a city where many Durga Pujas have become more about spectacle, Cleo County’s Puja stands out for the way it holds on to the roots. It’s where traditions are not outsourced, but cherished, where the rituals are performed by the very people who gather to celebrate, and where the festival is not just observed but lived.