So, you think you?ve got all the time in the world to prep for the Pujas? Well, you couldn?t be more wrong. Never mind that they?re still a good five weeks away, but even as you dawdle and procrastinate, flight and train schedules (for those holiday-bound) will become choc-a-bloc, the markets and malls will get more and more crowded, the traffic even more impossible and all the best buys will fly off from the shop shelves. So if you want to look good and feel your best during those all-important four days ? then it?s time to step on the gas and get things moving.

What with mall mania hitting the stratosphere (Pantaloons at Gariahat is adding two new floors and Westside is opening a brand-new store at Kasba just for the Pujas), stores rolling out the discounts and sundry other smaller shops packing their very own Puja punch, the choices out there are pretty much guaranteed to make you feel like a kid in a candy store. Which is exactly why it makes sense to know just what?s out there before you move in for the kill. Here then is our ready primer to help you along.

FASHION FORECAST

These four days are all about looking your spiffiest best. Saris and suits have always been popular picks on the Puja circuit, but of late, Westernwear, especially mixed and matched with a few ethnic elements has become quite the rage. At FabIndia in Hindusthan Park, the racks are overflowing with skirts in all shapes and sizes, be it snazzy wraps, chic A-lines, flouncy ghera skirts and pretty ghagroos, hottest when offset by a kurti or top and a crinkled dupatta. Speaking of dupattas, FabIndia also boasts a formidable range of these, including crisp Chanderis, Maheshwaris and beautiful Bhagalpuri silks that can jazz up even the simplest of outfits. Prices here start at Rs 190 for a top while the Bhagalpuri silk dupattas come for a hefty Rs 1,850.

The skirt saga continues at Kanishka?s, the exclusive boutique in Gariahat, which has recently launched Kora, a collection of stylish, contemporary, ready-to-wear outfits especially for the Pujas. Says designer Nandita Raja, ?We?ve worked mostly with fabrics like handlooms, mulmul, tussar and raw silk, in Kanishka?s signature prints combined with embroidery, zari, and even a sprinkling of sequins. And since our line caters to the modern Indian woman, Indo-Westerns ? skirts and kurtis, and short kurtas with pants ? rule the roost.? Prices here are a tad on the higher side, between Rs 2,000 and Rs 10,000.

While most designers sounded the death knell for the kurti, it shows no signs of going anywhere, and neither does the short kurta. These, along with their longer counterparts, are to be found everywhere from stand-alone shops in Gariahat, New Market and Behala, to upscale boutiques and malls like Pantaloons, Shoppers? Stop and Westside.

Saris, of course, are an absolute essential during the Pujas, and the more the merrier, as far as most women are concerned. While chiffons and georgettes with embroidery are favoured by the younger set, traditional Dhakai jamdaanis, balucharis, bomkais and kanthas never really go out of style. But that?s not to say that these weaves don?t come in unusual avatars as is seen in the case of Srijoni, a North-Calcutta boutique helmed by Arpita Chatterjee. Chatterjee has worked with ikkats and bomkais fusing them with kantha and crystals for an altogether different look. ?I?ve also experimented with different embroideries, one upon the other, like zardosi on kantha, and mixed handwork and block prints in quite a few of my creations,? says Chatterjee, adding that her Dhakais from Bangladesh?s finest karigars are also hugely popular. Prices at Srijoni begin at about Rs 2,000 for dressy tussars while the fusion ikkats and bomkais come for about Rs 8,000.

Also worth a close look is Jailakshmi on Rashbehari Avenue, which has unveiled a line of pashmina saris, matka silks with zardosi work, pure silks with block prints and embroidery and Chettinad silks for the Pujas. Then there are crisp tants with broad Ganga Jamuna borders, traditional Kanjeevarams and more. Prices for the former start at Rs 1,000, while for the latter, prepare to fork out Rs 6,000 onwards.

MALE ORDER

They say there?s nothing quite like a man in uniform but during the Pujas, a man in a traditional kurta-pyjama runs a close second. Says fashion designer Sharbari Dutta, ?The Pujas are a time for men to go traditional with a vengeance and this year too will be no different. What will be different though, is the colour palette with more and more men experimenting with livelier shades like red, saffron and maroon.? Nowadays coloured panjabis, block-printed kurtas and coloured khadi kurtas are the way to go. Dutta does a brilliant range of kurtas embellished with everything from zardosi and ari to kantha and minakari, as also a line of coloured dhotis jazzed up with various embroideries.

While Kimbadanti and Kinnor Kinnari at Gariahat continue to be popular haunts for traditional pyjama-panjabis at reasonable rates, Orly and Fab India are also hot draws when it comes to kurtas in smart cuts and upbeat designs at prices ranging from Rs 300.

MAKE-UP CALL

Regards the greasepaint, keep the heavy artillery in cold storage, for minimalism is in. Says make-up expert Ruby Biswas of Saajo, ?The nude look is in and a little shimmer and shine on the eyes, especially for the younger lot, goes a long way. This season, the metallic and sun-kissed look is also hot with colours like gold, bronze, brown and even brownish-pinks dominating the colour palette.?

Make-up artiste Aniruddha Chakladar?s beauty pointers for the Pujas include highlighting the eyes with skin-toned shadows and smudged kohl, though the more adventurous can also play around with coloured liners or shadows in brick-orange, lime-green and blue. ?If you?re underplaying the eyes, perk up the lips with bolder shades, and vice versa,? says Chakladar.

As for dressing up your tresses, again, simplicity rules. Ruby Biswas is all for the healthy, glowing look and advocates straightened hair (yes, it?s still very much in) cut in layers. Streaks in platinum, light blonde with gold reflect, and mahogany with copper reflect are also a ready route to lock-lustre, while hair accessories are also high on the trendometer. For those with wavy hair, a dash of styling products and you?re ready to go.

According to Chakladar, the casual, effortless look is here to stay, for some time at least. ?A dash of mousse before scrunching your hair is a great way to get that tousled look. But for those with longer hair, a low bun is always a great option,? he says.

PRESENT SENSE

Clothes, of course, make for the most obvious ? and the most popular ? gifts during the Pujas, but if you?re looking beyond the usual, FabIndia is stocking a line of home products, including shisham wood furniture like wine racks, coffee tables, cabinets, CD racks and corner pieces. These, apart from moras, snazzy lamps, salvers and a wide range of linen and upholstery are great presents for loved ones at prices starting from as low as Rs 150.

Though predictable, perfumes are always welcome, and your first stop on the scent trail could be The Royal Store in the New Market, or even Exclusive Lines on Camac Street. The new names to watch out for are Calvin Klein?s Eternity Moments, Azzaro?s Visit, Davidoff?s Echo and Gucci?s Envy Me, coming for anything upwards of Rs 1,000.

And should your budget extend to jewellery, A. Sirkar?s line of traditional jewellery is worth a dekko. The jewellery house has such offerings as juiphuler mala and golappata bala in gold, that are priced upwards of Rs 60,000. But the designs can be changed to suit the budget, and in any case, says owner Brinda Ganguly Sirkar, ?A lot of people splurge on gold jewellery during the Pujas, for after all, gold is also an investment. There are those who opt for heavy jewellery while others choose to give items from our lightweight line as gifts to near and dear ones.? Gold Factory, the outlet specialising in innovative yet reasonably priced jewellery promises to unveil something new in time for the Pujas, though as of now, its recent collection drawing upon the amber is going great guns. This has earrings, trinkets and more, priced upwards of Rs 4,000.

TRIP TEASE

Hard as it may be to believe, there are actually loads of Calcuttans, put off by the blaring loudspeakers and endless traffic snarls, who just can?t wait to pack their bags and head out for a breather from all the madness and the mayhem. For them, travel agencies have lined up a list of popular getaways this Puja.

While places like Shankarpur, Puri, Digha, Darjeeling and Gangtok will always remain top picks for budget holidaymakers, the Far East is gaining in popularity by leaps and bounds. Thomas Cook is offering two seven-day packages, scheduled to depart on October 10, to Singapore and Thailand and Singapore and Malaysia. Priced at around Rs 42,000 per head, the packages include travel by Singapore Airlines, 4-star accommodation, all meals and sightseeing. After the Far East, the next most popular destinations, according to Thomas Cook, are Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand.

The South-East, especially Singapore and Malaysia continue to be the hot draws at Victoria Travels, too, though according to vice-president Sunaina Chatterjee, ?It?s the FIT (free individual traveller) packages that are really big this year, as opposed to the group ones?. Says Chatterjee, ?Though the Pujas are almost one-and-a-half months away, almost all air and train tickets have already sold out, and even a lot of cabins in the comparatively expensive Star Cruises are full. We are receiving an average of 200-300 enquiries per day from people who are also looking at places like Switzerland, Europe, Dubai and Mauritius. In the domestic sector, Mussourie, Nainital, Jim Corbett, Goa and Vizag are doing really well.?

FEAST ON THIS

What?s any celebration without good food? And when it comes to Durga Puja, it?s all about some no-holds-barred feasting. While restaurants serving Chinese, Continental, Thai and Indian all do pretty well, traditional Bangla khabar wins hands-down during these few days. Aaheli, the Bengali speciality restaurant at the Peerless Inn has planned a special a la carte menu featuring lip-smackers like Pomfret Paturi, Hilsa Barisali (a Bangladeshi delicacy), Mushidabad Mangsho Pulao and dishes like Rajthakurer Kasha Hadi and Pulao Rajnandini, culled from zamindari cuisine. This apart, the restaurant is also offering the very popular bhoj and mahabhoj thalis.

Thalis are also going to be the mainstays of the menu at all the four Bhojohari Manna outlets with new dishes being on offer everyday. Exotic fish and chicken and mutton preparations will be on the cards that take in a mix of grandma?s favourite recipes and innovative new additions. Furthermore, according to partner Siddharth Bose, ?We are actually planning to reduce our prices during the Pujas though not at the cost of quality.?

For some innovative sweet temptations to tuck into after the main meal, check out Gupta Brother?s new line-up for the Pujas. ?Though old favourites like rossogollas and gulab jamuns are still around, we?ve introduced several new items like sitaphal chamchams, sitaphal almond tarts, custard apple rasmalai and honey melon dew rossogollas for a fresh take on things,? says partner Rajesh Gupta.

If the thought of delectable desserts has already set your tastebuds tingling, it?s just a hint of all the promise that the Pujas hold out. So even if the stress-levels at office are peaking and the kids at home are driving you insane, take heart from the fact that that much-awaited time of the year is only just five weeks away.

Illustrations by Suman Choudhury

PC AND JAYSHREE SORCAR

No matter where offers for shows come from, we never ever leave Calcutta during the Pujas. We have two paras — Ballygunge Purba Palli where we lived earlier, and Ballygunge Station Road, where we stay now, and we’re quite involved with the Pujas at both these places. Besides, I’m also one of the judges of the Calcutta Police Fire Safety Awards this year, which means that the entire Ashtami night will be spent checking out a variety of pandals which we’ll do together with our three daughters. In fact, we spend the whole of the Pujas together along with other relatives and friends some of whom we actually get to meet after a long time. We love the Pujas because it’s a thrill to see everyone decked out in their best and the city transformed into a magical place.

BIKRAM GHOSH AND JAYA SIL

This year, we’ll be in the city to spend Durga Puja with family and para friends. This will also be our son Tatin’s first Puja. I have a house in Kabir Road and we’re quite involved with the puja there. It’s a nice homely atmosphere and what’s more, we know most of the para people. That apart, we’re also pretty involved in the Senhati Colony puja in Behala, where we now stay. In fact, we’re setting up a cultural programme there on one of the days. This year, though, I’m going to pass up on judging the pandals as it takes up too much time and we just want to make the most of the festival with each other and our family.