A day of devotion, cultural festivities, and traditional feasts

Lucknow: Women clad in yellow sarees and men in yellow kurtas attended the Saraswati Puja organised by the Trans Gomti Dussehra, Durga Puja Committee, and Lucknow Oriya Samaj on Sunday.
The Ladies Wing of the Trans Gomti Dussehra and Durga Puja Committee at Chandrashekhar Azad Park performed the puja in the afternoon, followed by the distribution of prasad, which included boondi, namakpara, and five varieties of fruits. Devotees then enjoyed a bhog, which featured food items like khichdi, baingan bhaja, aaloo bhaja, payesh (kheer), and rasgulla. In the evening, cultural activities such as dance dramas, classical and bhajan singing, and classical dance performances were showcased.
Meanwhile, at the Lucknow Oriya Samaj in Ekta Sadan, the rituals included a puja followed by Odissi dance and Oriya bhajans. Fruits, laddoos, and poha chura were served as prasad to the devotees. The bhog included items like kachori, papad, dal, ghanto (mixed vegetables), saag, and kheer. New members of the club were also introduced to the community during the event.