The Enchanted Wanderers: 16 counts to Heaven in Bengal's Uru

This story starts from this link click here. If you're just interested in the list, then the current post is one. But to get a perspective on life through my mind do start from here. Thanks.

This I am sure is by no means comprehensive. But its a start. Help from the Bongs in Bengal uru would make this list comprehensive. Lets hope it happens by next year.

The 12th observation (I'd made 11 observations about Puja's in Bangalore in the previous post.) I would like to make is the Bengali's living in various parts of Bangalore are not united in the cause of making this celebration larger than life. And that can happen only if they start unifying themselves. Sadly, for now even at the Puja locations even the chaps running some of the puja's had no clue of the various Puja's except for the big ones.

Unity would not only get access to artisans, it would also bring the life to even the non bengali's in this city to sit up and take notice and also participate in the mother of all festivities.

If someone knows about other Puja's please post a comment with your name and that will be added on and credit will be given to you in the post as well.

Here's hoping for an even greater Puja next year in Bengaluru. I would call this picture below... the three protimas. The deity, the guide and the watcher. The role of the gatekeeper is what's on focus!

1/ Wind Tunnel Road: This is bang inside Wind tunnel road off airport road. (a.k.a Murugeshpalya) Turn right (if you're coming towards the airport from MG Road) at the crossing after Manipal Hospital. You'll find an Air Force camp grounds on the right inside Wind tunnel road. The Puja is INSIDE the camp.

2/ Cambridge Layout: Off Sai Baba Temple Road on Cambridge Layout. Coming from MG Road towards 100 ft road on Sai Baba temple road. You'll find a crossing before a cannal (this is the point where the road becomes two way) Take the left follow the lane to a ground where this Puja happens.

3/ Command Hospital - Cambridge Layout. Off airport Road. Turn right after you take the road towards Cambridge layout from Airport Road. Defence property.

4/ Cantonment: Turn Left before Underpass if coming up towards Cantonment. Vasanth Nagar. There's a park on the right where this Puja happens.

5/ Jayamahal: Pass the Cantonment Rly. Stn. underbridge and take the road on left to proceed towards the TV Tower/ Mekhri Circle. Take a Right turn the first break in the median. Continue on this road. This road curves, and leads you to Jayamahal Park. The Puja is adjacent to it.

6/ Bellary Road: Windsor Manor towards Hebbal. Cross the Mekhri Circle underpass. Entrance through an Air Force Campus on the left. Theatre called Manoranjan.

7/ Yellahanka: Fork on Bellary road towards Yellahanka. Lake left. Find Yellahanka Police Station. Close to it is the Sheshadripuram College. The Puja is held on Campus.

8/Air force Camp: Back to the highway towards Hyderabad. Airforce camp on both sides of the road. This Puja is held on the right side campus. Prior permission required to get inside.

9/ JP Nagar: On Bannerghatta Road. Crossing of JP Nagar. This is the one Puja on this side of town. N R Kalyana Mantapa, adjacent to Mandavi Motors, Bannerghatta Road, J P Nagar, 2nd phase.

10 & 11/ Koramangla: I heard there were two being held, but by the time we reached here we'd run out of steam and did not search around in detail so found only one. From Koramngla Police Station if you are heading up towards Forum Mall. This one falls on the right.

The second one was aparently a break off from the same association and near the police station. I could not find one near the PO. Better luck next time. Or if the association has merged back... that's great news.

12/ Mahalakshmipuram: Sadumatada Sadara Vidyabhivrudhi Sangha, No. 5A, 4th A Main Road, 12th Cross, West of Chord Road, Mahalakshmipuram, Bangalore 560086. Full address nothing more required.

13/ Malleshwaram - Canara Union. Prabaasee Association. This is a confirmed one. But address and other details not found. We could not find this despite spending half an hour around asking shops, auto drivers...

14/ Marathahalli: Right turn from Marathahalli railway overbridge (towards Whitefield. Landmark Aishwarya apartments.

15/ Ulsoor: This is the largest, most happening Puja of Bangalore. Off Ulsoore lake. From the Park towards Ulsoor, take the left on the fork at the lake. Take the right as soon as the lake ends follow the left and you'll arrive at the grounds where this is held.

16/ Brookefields: Almost opposite HLL. Kalyana Mandapa. Cross the railway overbridge (Proceeding from Airport towards Whitefield), left Kundalahalli traffic junction, towards ITPL.

We'd heard there were about 30 Puja's in Bengaluru. Best effort within 3 days and we could come up with 16. If I were Floyd I would say ... Any Bengali's out there?