Souvenir

SOUVENIR FOR

ದುರ್ಗ ಪೂಜೆ

Madhu is the event coordinator for the festival all rituals are faithfully carried out. Often
this year and is proud of the fact that the accompanied by the beat of the Dhak and the
pandal this year was decorated completely by resounding vibrations from the conch.
members of the association with very little Shilpi Sinha Roy, a PG student in Bengaluru’s
external help. This is generally the case with Mount Carmel College, who is from Kolkata,
some other pujo pandals too where decorating explains the tradition: “On Ashtami day, all
it is also a part of the festivities. women wear the traditional saree while men
For Madhu, and most Bengalis world over, wear Kurta and Dhoti. On this day, puja is the
Durga Pujo / Pujo is a time to celebrate the longest. 770 verses about the ‘frightful’ aspect
coming over of Uma Devi to her maternal of Durga Maa is generally chanted on this day.”
home. Celebrations are through various means Shilpi adds: “For a Bengali, Durga Puja means
including music, dance, theater, and food :-). the best 10-15 days of the year. From the day
After all, when a married daughter comes to of Mahalaya, till immersion of Durga idol, none
her maika / tavarooru (mother’s house), the of the students study, none of the officials go
family members there get together and have for work, till Dashera, everything except the
fun. hospital will be closed. No work, only
While fun is important, the religious aspect is enjoyment… immense happiness of hanging
not discounted and rituals are carefully carried out with friends and siblings, eating whatever
out on each of the five days of the Devi’s stay. we want, which would be usually restricted
Right from bodhon (inauguration of the puja) during the rest of the year.”
ghat sthapana (Kalash), Kola Bou Snan (on Bengaluru has many Durga Puja Pandals this
Sapthami – a part of celebrating the wedding year across the city – be it in Jalahalli,
of Ganesha to a Banana tree – according to Whitefield, Electronic City, HAL, Koramangala
some, it could be considered a way of or J P Nagar. Bengalis in Bengaluru are ensuring
worshiping nature too), Vishnu Smaran, Ganga that a part of their tradition is kept alive in the
Pranam (prayer to river Ganga), Pushpanjali, city they have made their home in. The mother
Gayatri Jap, Nabapatrika (on Saptami), Ashtami Durga fights Mahishasura who is attempting to
puja, Sandhi puja (the time when Devi Durga cut down trees for urban development or to
killed Mahishasura – the period between meet his own selfish ends. In this
Ashtami and Navami tithi – 24 minutes of Puja interpretation, Devi Durga, who also
– Devi is worshiped as Chamunda), Chandi symbolises mother Earth, comes to the rescue
Path, lighting of 108 lamps, homa, Bhog, of mankind from the menace of environmental
Navami puja, Havan, Kumari Puja (9 or 11 danger. 200 saplings are also being distributed
young girls, usually less than 8 or 9 years of age among visitors to encourage them to plant
are worshipped), offering Fish to Durga Maa on trees in the surrounding areas.
Navami, Dadhi karma on Dashami—offering a What is heartening to note is that non-Bengalis
sweet dish made of Mishti Dohi, poha, too are increasingly participating in the Pujo
sandesh, and Ghee, Devi Boron (offering being held in the ever expanding metropolis
Sandesh to the Goddess and praying to her that Bengaluru is.
using two beatel leaves), Sindhoor Khela (on
Dashami) and finally visarjan (seeing off the
divine mother),

ದುರ್ಗಗ ಪೂಜೆ

दरु ्गा पजू ग

दरु ्गा पजू ग

For me, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival that has to be experienced by going to the pandals and looking at the idols. It is som
For me, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival that has to be experienced by going to the pandals and looking at the idols. It is s
For me, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival that has to be experienced by going to the pandals and looking at the idols. It

দৰু ্গা পজূ া

Durga Puja is actually, the celebration of ‘life’ and
the joy of ‘living’ more than anything else.
In Shantiniketan, it is a grand festival, spread over six
days starting with Anando Mela on Panchami and
culminating in Visarjan on Dashami.
These six days are marked by puja rituals, scripture
recitation, cultural performances by residents and
visiting celebrity artists and great fervor and
enthusiasm of PSN residents.
The PSN Durga Puja in its 6th year in 2018 reached
newer heights in scale. Major highlights of the event
were the Agomoni dance choreographed and
performed by resident ladies, the stage that was
visualised and decorated by artworks by resident
artists

Bodhon- the day begins with the unveiling of
the Goddess's face. Then the 'bodhon' or
incitations ceremony of the Durga Puja happens.
With this ritual, Durga Puja begins with full
pomp and splendour. Women who have
children usually fast till they participate in the
'anjali' wearing a new saree. They are prohibited
from eating non-vegetarian food and rice on this
particular day. Durga Shashti is an important day
for all mothers because they are supposed to
pray for the well being of their child. As Goddess
Durga is presumed to be the Mother of the
Universe, Durga Shashti takes on a special
significance for mothers. On this day, mothers
fast and eat certain limited food items. They
perform the 'anjali' and pray for their child's
prosperity.

For me, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival that has to be experienced by going to the pandals and looking at the idols. It is som
For me, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival that has to be experienced by going to the pandals and looking at the idols. It is s
For me, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival that has to be experienced by going to the pandals and looking at the idols. It

দৰু ্গা পজূ া

One of my earliest memories of eating bhog or Krishna Deb was appointed as the language
food offered to the goddess was at our paarar interpreter to Lord Clive. The camaraderie between
(neighbourhood) Durga Puja in the early 90s. I the two men was strong and it was upon Clive’s
remember my mother dragging me out of a persuasion that Deb initiated the iconic Sovabajar
serpentine queue outside the pandal on a sunny Rajbari Puja at his mansion in north Calcutta in the
October afternoon. The crowd had swelled like same year. Durga Puja is actually, the celebration of
never before, and I couldn’t push my way to ‘life’ and the joy of ‘living’ more than anything else.
devour the luchis. Hearing the servers In Shantiniketan, it is a grand festival, spread over six
screaming inside to fetch more luchis had me in days starting with Anando Mela on Panchami and
tears. Seeing me cry, Ma took me home. Bhoger culminating in Visarjan on Dashami.
luchi is rubbery, she had said, and promised me These six days are marked by puja rituals, scripture
hot, fluffy ones once we reached home. I knew recitation, cultural performances by residents and
that she was saying it in order to placate me and visiting celebrity artists and great fervor and
nothing would make up for missing the luchi at enthusiasm of PSN residents.
the pandal. The PSN Durga Puja in its 6th year in 2018 reached
The tradition of bhog during Durga Puja is one newer heights in scale. Major highlights of the event
that goes back over two centuries. The epic were the Agomoni dance choreographed and
victory of the East India Company over Nawab performed by resident ladies, the stage that was
Siraj-ud-daulah at the Battle of Plassey allowed visualised and decorated by artworks by resident
the Company to expand their empire in India artists
over the next 100 years. Soon after the British
took over, an erudite gentleman named Naba

দৰু ্গাপজূ া

Sandhi Puja In simple words------it is believed that demon
king Mahishasur had received blessings from
An integral and important part of Durga Puja, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This gave him
Sandhi Puja is performed at the juncture of the immunity from death. However, Mahishasur
8th and 9th lunar day. Sandhi puja lasts from unleashed a reign of terror on the world,
the last 24 minutes of Ashtami till the first 24 sparing none in all three realms of heaven,
minutes of Nabami. During this juncture (the earth and hell.
"Sandhikhan"), Durga is worshipped in her
Chamunda form. Devi Durga killed, Chando and
Mundo, the two asuras at "Sandhikhan" and
thus acquired the name of "Chamunda".
In Simple words---- (This is a typical puja that
begins at the fag end of ashtami and concludes
in the beginning of Navmi. Goddess Durga is
worshipped as Chamunda in this period and
legends say that she slated demons Chanda
and Munda this point of time)
Myth behind Durga being worshipped as
ChamundaWhile the Goddess and Mahishasura
were engaged in a fierce battle, the two
generals of Mahisha, Chando and Mundo
attacked the Devi from the the rear. Durga
appeared to them, a brilliantly glowing woman
with her hair knotted on her head, a crescent
moon above her forehead, a 'tilak' on her
forehead and a garland around her neck. With
golden earrings and clad in a yellow saari she
emitted a golden glow. Her ten hands
possessed ten different weapons. Though she
appeared beautiful her face turned blue with
anger when she faced Chondo and Mundo.
From her third eye then emerged a Devi with a
large falchion and a shield. She had a large
face, bloody tongue and sunken blood shot
eyes. She was Chamunda. With a bloodcurdling
shriek she leapt forward and killed them. This
moment was the juncture of the 8th and 9th
lunar day.

দৰু ্গাপজূ া

Durga Puja

Durga Puja