Mandal Magic!

There were Devi mandals galore across Colaba, on the roads, in the bylanes...everywhere. A report.

The Navratri fever in Colaba was at an electrifying high this year. The nine-day festival immediately followed the ten-day-Ganeshutsav fiesta where some of the biggest Ganpati idols made their appearance.

The Navratri fervour, however, was no less and mandals across Colaba and Cuffe Parade, big and small, made their presence felt. While a few mandals resorted to the regular dandiya and dance on techno-music, Bollywood remixes and 'DJ music', fancy-dress and dance competitions, there were others that maintained the traditional flavour of the Navratrotsav such as the slow-paced garba, customary havan, kanya pujan, etc. And, surprisingly, they were huge hits too!

Interestingly, it were the nagaris of Colaba and Cuffe Parade that stole the show with the masti and the magic!

Women dressing up in colour-coordinated traditional attire for each of the nine days of the Navratri and, then, for the dance ‘parties’ at the end of each day; Bingeing on the sumptuous food served during the Bhandaras and enjoying the electrifying fervour during Devi Visarjan at Machhimar Nagar and Gateway of India, every moment on each of the nine days was a celebration in itself!

Young Samudri Sports Club Navratrotsav Mandal, Colaba

The first generation senior residents of Colaba's Morya Mandir zone
seated with their daughters-in-law in the front row

Mandal President Hemant Koli with wife Lata and daughters on the way to rent 'fancy-dress' outfits for the competition held at the venue

The fancy-dress competition underway at the venue

Local women residents partaking in a garba during the celebrations

Super Boy Sarvajanik Navratrotsav Mandal, Machhimar Nagar

The Devi in full glory at the mandap

A devotee making her leap of faith

The devout during the last day puja of the Devi

Sagar Samrat Sarvajanik Navratrotsav Mandal, Machhimar Nagar

The mandal's Secretary Vinod Tandel, Vice President Ravindra Meher, President Rajesh Meher and karyakarta Bhushan Chaudhari (from left)

Women karyakartas of the mandal

Jai Ambe Mata Mitra Mandal, Colaba

Mandal Vice President Dhananjay Patil and President Vasudev Patil (right)

Devout resident Tejas with mother Sunder Kounder with the Devi

The elderly women dressed in traditional sarees for the Navratri celebrations

Young residents of the zone dressed up in thematic outfits through the nine nights of Navratri that included Gujarati, Bengali, Koli, Western, Adivasi, Maharashtrian and South Indian attire