Shreya Ghoshal on her special Durga Puja 2025 performance at 80-year-old Mumbai pandal
Synopsis
Shreya Ghoshal says she felt a spiritual 'calling' to perform at least once in Ma Durga's presence this year — and being in Mumbai made it happen. Her performance at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja, founded in 1948 and celebrating its 80th year, drew Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and virtually the whole of Bollywood.
Key Takeaways
Shreya Ghoshal performed at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai during its 80th-year celebrations .
She described the performance as the fulfilment of a personal spiritual 'calling' to sing in Ma Durga 's presence.
The pandal was founded in 1948 by veteran producer Sashadhar Mukherjee , grandfather of filmmaker Ayan Mukerji .
Ghoshal publicly thanked Ayan Mukerji and the Mukerji family for organising the event.
Attendees included Alia Bhatt , Ranbir Kapoor , Priyanka Chopra , Hrithik Roshan , Jaya Bachchan , and several other leading film personalities.
Singer Shreya Ghoshal has opened up about why her Durga Puja 2025 performance at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai carried exceptional personal meaning — marking the first time she fulfilled a heartfelt wish to perform in the presence of Ma Durga. The occasion coincided with the pandal's landmark 80th-year celebrations.
A Calling She Could Not Ignore
Ghoshal described her decision to perform this year as a deeply spiritual impulse. Sharing glimpses of the festivities on social media, she wrote: 'I had felt a calling for this year to make sure I do one performance in Ma's presence, and unlike every year I was very much in India, and in the city. Felt so blessed.'
The singer noted that being physically present in Mumbai this season — something she said does not always align with her touring calendar — made it possible to honour the wish. She performed with her entire band at the pandal after seeking the goddess's blessings.
Gratitude to the Mukerji Family
Ghoshal expressed warm gratitude to filmmaker Ayan Mukerji and his family for enabling the moment. 'Thank you @ayan_mukerji and the whole Mukerji family for making this happen with so much love and devotion,' she wrote on social media.
The North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja has a storied legacy: it was founded in 1948 by Ayan Mukerji's grandfather, veteran producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, making its 80th edition in 2025 a particularly resonant milestone for the family and its devoted community.
Bollywood Turns Out in Force
The celebrations drew a constellation of prominent personalities from the Hindi film industry. Among those who attended were Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Kajol, Jaya Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Tanishaa Mukerji, Vicky Kaushal, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Twinkle Khanna, and Bipasha Basu.
The gathering underscored the puja's standing as one of Mumbai's most prominent cultural and community events, blending religious tradition with the city's film fraternity in a way few other occasions manage.
Eight Decades of Tradition
Established well before Indian independence was even fully consolidated, the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja has endured for 80 years as a living bridge between Bengali cultural heritage and Mumbai's cosmopolitan identity. Under Ayan Mukerji's stewardship, the celebrations have retained their devotional core while attracting national attention each year.
For Ghoshal — one of India's most celebrated playback singers — the performance represents a rare convergence of personal faith and professional life, and she has indicated the experience has left a lasting impression.
Point of View
Faith and public performance are not separate spheres. The North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja's 80-year run — sustained by the same family across generations — is itself an underreported cultural story, one that has quietly become a Bollywood pilgrimage point each October. The annual congregation of A-listers at the Mukerji pandal is less celebrity spectacle and more a reflection of the Bengali diaspora's enduring cultural gravity in Mumbai's entertainment capital. What mainstream coverage misses is the institutional continuity: very few community celebrations in any Indian city have held this level of prominence across eight decades.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Shreya Ghoshal's Durga Puja 2025 performance special to her?
Shreya Ghoshal said she had felt a personal spiritual 'calling' this year to perform at least once in Ma Durga's presence. Unlike previous years, she was in India and in Mumbai during the puja season, which made the wish possible to fulfil.
Where did Shreya Ghoshal perform during Durga Puja 2025?
She performed at the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Mumbai, which was marking its 80th-year celebrations. She performed with her entire band after seeking the blessings of the goddess.
Who organises the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja?
The celebration is organised by filmmaker Ayan Mukerji's family. The pandal was originally established in 1948 by his grandfather, veteran producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, and has continued as a family tradition for 80 years.
Which Bollywood celebrities attended the North Bombay Durga Puja 2025?
The celebrations were attended by Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Kajol, Jaya Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Tanishaa Mukerji, Vicky Kaushal, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Twinkle Khanna, and Bipasha Basu, among others.
What is the significance of the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja's 80th year?
Founded in 1948 by Sashadhar Mukherjee, the pandal has run continuously for 80 years, making it one of Mumbai's oldest and most prominent Durga Puja celebrations. The milestone was a key reason behind the scale and significance of this year's event.
