Pandal hopping, selfies and street food add sparkle to Saptami

Ranchi: New clothes, selfie sessions, street food stops and the thrill of discovering creatively themed pandals turned Maha Saptami into a memorable celebration for revellers across the city on Saturday.From families stepping out after lunch to groups of youngsters planning their pandal-hopping routes, Ranchi remained immersed in the festive spirit. For many, the joy lay as much in the journey as in the destination.“We never decide how many pandals we will visit. We start with one, meet friends at another, stop for chaat somewhere and suddenly realise it is midnight,” said Arav Yadav at Bakri Bazar.The city’s pandals drew large crowds with elaborate decorations, colourful themes and dazzling illuminations. Mobile phones remained busy as visitors captured family portraits, group selfies and social media reels. Children, meanwhile, marvelled at towering idols and the vibrant displays.“Durga Puja is our annual family outing. Everyone gets ready, we eat together and visit pandals we have been coming to since childhood. It brings back so many memories,” said Riddhi, a Harmu resident.Food stalls added to the festive buzz, with visitors pausing between pandal visits for chaat, momos, dosas, bhelpuri and other favourites.“We come for the pandals, but the food makes the evening even better,” said Roma Mahato at Ratu Road.Friday’s heavy rain, however, left several stretches muddy and waterlogged, causing inconvenience to visitors. In Ashok Nagar, resident Dipendar Kumar said several lanes remained submerged after the downpour.The disruption did little to dampen the festive mood. Dressed in bright attire, revellers exchanged greetings, clicked pictures and continued making plans for the next stop in the trail, keeping Ranchi’s streets lively well into the night.Stay updated with the latest Ranchi news. Download the TOI App.