Time to relive memories over adda

What’s Durga Puja without never-ending adda sessions? Those who haven’t taken part, probably won’t know.

For most people, a gathering of friends and old acquaintances at pandals is one of the indispensable elements of the five-day festivities.

Adda is all about walking down the memory lane and enquiring about each others’ well-being over cups of tea and savoury snacks.

Jamshedpur boasts some prominent adda venues where mornings and late afternoons are reserved for some hearty interactions.

Some of the most sought-after adda spots include Circuit House pandal in Bistupur, Sabuj Kalyan Sangh in Telco, Contractors’ Area and Manimela grounds in Bistupur. Aambagan near Bengal Club tops the list. New Baradwari in Sakchi is also a favourite haunt.

Addas carry more meaning for outstation folks who have spent a substantial amount of their life in the steel city and relished each moment of the grand festivity.

For most, it’s like homecoming after months of hard work.

“I have come for the Puja in Jamshedpur after four years. It’s quite a long gap and I wish to enjoy my precious time with my friends here. I plan to spend my afternoons with friends at our favourite adda spot at Aambagan grounds. Evenings will be reserved for Pandal-hopping with family. I cannot think about Puja without adda. It’s one of the important ingredients of the festivity,” said Subhashish Nag, a a resident of Penar Road in Sakchi, who works with a private firm in Raipur, Chhatisgarh.

Bapi Roy, who works in Bangalore, said he missed his adda sessions a lot and would like to meet some old friends this time.

“I remember when we used to sit on the concrete benches at the football ground (near New Baradwari Puja venue) for hours over tea and cigarettes. I have come to Jamshedpur to relive that moment,” the New Baradwari resident said.

Bistupur resident Satish Singh, who has come to the city after around five years, is eager to relish bhog with friends over some good-old adda.

“I feel most relaxed during addas. And bhog adds to the relaxation. Morning and afternoon sessions from Sashti to Navami will be reserved for adda. I don’t want to miss that,” Singh, who works with a multinational firm in Mumbai, said.