Chembur Durga Puja Association (CDPA) one of Mumbai’s oldest Bengali associations, celebrated its 71st Durga Puja this year. We spoke with Mr. Surojit Lodh, President of CDPA, who shared the history, and evolution of this iconic community celebration, from its humble beginnings to becoming a community landmark.
Story of Chembur Durga Puja Association in the words of Surojit Lodh, President (CDPA):
"CDPA Bengali Association’s Durgotsav has a proud heritage of 71 years. Our Durga Puja began in a small house at Anushakti Nagar, started by a handful of well-known Bengali families back in the day. The next year, more Bengalis from Chembur, among them the legendary Ashok Kumar, joined in, and that’s how Durgotsav in Chembur was born.
Picture from the CDPA archive
Since then, we’ve never looked back. Year after year, through challenges big and small, our celebrations have carried on without a single break. In fact, after Dadar, Chembur is the only place in Mumbai where Durgotsav has been celebrated continuously. Our secret? The unity of our members.
In the early days, till 1981, we would celebrate at Gandhi Maidan Ground and Sindhi Society Gymkhana Ground on alternate years. Later, Gandhi Maidan was reserved for Dussehra, and Sindhi Society Gymkhana wasn’t available anymore. In 1992, our guide and supporter, the late Shri Pramod Mahajan, helped us secure Chembur High School Ground.
We had a great run there — over 20 years of joyous Durgotsav, strong ties with the school, and even contributions from us to support their work. But by 2018–19, the school stopped receiving government funding, and when JBCN International School took over, they gave us two years to shift.
Durga Maa’s picture from CDPA archive
Then Covid hit. With restrictions everywhere, only a small group of us could gather, and we celebrated at Angan Lawns. Honestly, it felt like a blessing in disguise. We didn’t have a ground at the time, and this kept the spirit alive.
A little later, we finally found our current home at Jawahar Ground, thanks to Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF). They allow us 15 days here each year, as long as we return it in the same condition.
CDPA Pandal at Jawahar Ground
Every year, we try to bring a piece of Bengal to Chembur. About 15 artisans travel from Kolkata and work round the clock for two weeks to make our pandal special. This year’s theme is the Pingla art from Paschim Medinipur, with beautiful hand-painted Patachitra scrolls that tell stories of gods, village life, and old legends.
Durga Maa and the paintings at the Pandal
Paintings at the Pandal
This season wasn’t easy. The rain played spoilsport, and the BMC dug up part of the ground for Ganpati immersion, making things even more difficult. However, we kept going. Our celebration sees nearly 1.5 lakh footfalls across all days. On Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Laxmi Puja days, we serve bhog to everyone, and our crowd usually ranges from 8,000 to 11,000 devotees. If Ashtami or Navami falls on a weekend, that number jumps to 12,000–14,000.
Looking ahead, I really want the younger generation to take complete charge to ensure that the legacy continues unabated. Our Durgotsav isn’t just about festivities — it’s also about giving back. CDPA Bengali Association supports underprivileged students, offers scholarships, runs ambulance services, and helps cancer patients.
For us, it’s more than a celebration. It’s a tradition that binds communities together — a bond that has lasted for decades, across generations."