MUMBAI: With Navratri kicking off, private FM stations across the country are blowing their own trumpet to woo the listeners and goddess Durga with special programmes and contests.

Big 92.7 FM is going to celebrate Navratri by airing the live aarti from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. RJ Seema of Big FM will be stationed at the Bhavan to record live links for all the stations across the country.

Big FM VP programming head Manav Dhanda said, "At Big FM, the programming mix is tailor-made to meet requirements of listeners. Given the festive season and the high spiritual incline of the people of our country, the aarti from the Shrine is a perfect fit. We are extremely thankful to `Shri Mata Devi Shrine Board`, without whose support and consent, this initiative would not be a success. Through this offering, we are taking interactivity on Radio to a new level altogether."

Big 92.7 FM Kolkata is celebrating Dusshera with special programming mix specifically packaged for the occasion.

The station will have special programme on Mahalaya and have regular traffic update and alternative route plan during the five days. Big FM will also run an on-air contest Trinayanar Khonje for the listeners to nominate the Trinayana from their locality who truly embodies the spirit of Durga. The winners selected from the entries will be felicitated for their achievements in their localities. The winner will also get to host the shows with Big FM RJs during the three days of celebration.

As part of the celebration, Big FM will launch a contest "Baajiye Dhak Lagaao Taak" in association with Nokia XpressMusic. Sixteen selected finalists will perform in the Mega final on navami afternoon to decide the winner of this contest.

The station has also lined up an on air campaign Odero Pujo to collect new clothes for underprivileged children.

Odero Pujo is an on air campaign to collect new clothes for underprivileged children and will take them for pandalhopping and luncheon treat on panchami day.

Big FM Kolkata station director Bodahayan Roychoudhury said, "It is our constant endeavor to live the brand-line Shono Shonao, Life Jamao and hence positively impact consumer lives in everything that we do. We strive to ensure local connect through our programming mix which is unarguably a clincher. During Durga Pujo, a festival that ushers in cheer, hope and goodness, we have put together a wholesome entertainment mix, to keep the city thoroughly entertained and glued to our Station. With new offerings on our shows during this most awaited festival in Kolkata, we are taking local connect to a new level altogether."

Big FM Chennai will celebrate Navaratri with `gollu`. People decorate and arrange dolls in their house in an orderly and thematic way. Neighbours are then invited to take a look at the doll arrangement and exchange sweets. Such arrangement of dolls is called "gollu" and it`s a occasion for get-together. Big FM RJ Sangeetha and RJ Sumita will visit random houses in Chennai and will judge the best "Gollu" settings by rating them.

In Hyderabad station few selected homes are turned into a radio station from where special Navrati shows will be aired. Hello Mumbai with RJ Anmol will identify these evils during the nine-day festival and seek solutions to destroy them at the end of it for a better Mumbai.

Radio Mirchi, on the other hand, will give an opportunity to its listeners to wage a war against the `nine Ravanas` of Mumbai - the evils that plaque the city.

RJ Sana on Khubsoorat will host the show live from the Dandiya, organised by Ismail Darbar for a period of nine days.

On-air listeners can share their innovative Navratri recipes, latest Dandiya trends and the coolest clothes to wear on Khubsoorat and win exciting prizes. Listeners can join Jeeturaaj on Total Filmy to participate in a special Navratri contest.

Fever 104 FM will also celebrate Navrarti with nine different DJs playing songs of their choice on all the nine nights from 9 pm onwards.

Fever FM programming head Gaurav Sharma said, "Mumbai is the city which never sleeps and it keeps the essence of DJ culture alive. With the festive season round the corner, we aim at kick starting the celebrations in our unique musical way."

On the occasion of Navratri, Radio One 94.3 FM will launch `Navratri Special Contest` for the listeners of Mumbai wherein 10 winners will be given passes for the dandiya night hosted by singers Preeti and Pinky. The station will also provide chauffeur driven Radio One car for a pick up and drop from home to the venue.