Women of Residency Estate take part in a dandiya meet on Friday. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Sept. 29: Entertainment rules on the priority list of the organisers of apartment pujas in Ranchi and a lot is in store for the city residents on Ashtami and Nabami.

Classical dance, music and dhununchi naach by local artistes on one hand and mouth-watering snacks on the other, Durga Puja committees are all set to enjoy the festival.

The residents of Residency Estate, have organised a cultural programme for children. “Singer Swati Sarkar of an apartment would enthrall the audiences. The pandals are set on the building premises by contributions from the residents and a bhog is also organised,” Jhuma Sarkar, a member said.

She further informed that a bhajan programme is in the pipeline on Ashtami and artistes from the All India Radio and Doordarshan would perform.

Members of the puja committee of Shyamali colony said, apart from organising innovative competitions like chanting om and conch-blowing, there would be performances of Bharatnatyam, Kathak and a guitar concert.

“We are organising the om chanting competition today and in the evening there will be a cultural programme on devotional and classical songs,” one of the members of the puja committee said.

The member further informed that artists from Jawaharlal Nehru Kala Kendra, a local organisation, would also perform. “Sumitra Bhattcharya, Lili Mukherjee are prominent classical singers who would be performing, well-known sitarist Prashant Thakur would ,manage the programme” the member informed.

Secretary of the Ranchi Mahanagar Durga Puja Samiti, Rabindra Verma said, initially puja committees would invite artistes from Mumbai on Ashtami and Nabami. This practice has, however, stopped now due to a large crowd and lack of proper infrastructure.

“Presently, only cultural functions are organised, that, too on a smaller scale,” added the secretary.

While the members of Deshpriyo Club said, they organise dhunanchi naach with dhakis playing in the background.

Secretary of the Uma Shanti apartment, Shashikant said, they do not organise any function on the premises due to lack of space. “But we contribute to the local puja committee and participate in the festival. The members organise devotional songs in the evening but nothing much happens,” the secretary informed.