'Durga Puja' is a massive affair spread over a period of four hectic days, with different rituals being performed each day. Special themes are chosen for the celebration which include decorating the idols and surrounding areas drops, the soil dug up by r.
TODAY, ONE of the Bengali TV channels showed the dhaki boys at the Sealdah railway station platform – they were dishing out their best to attract the Puja committee members who have arrived to select the dhaki-wallahs (drummer boys) for their Pujas. These dhakis come from far off villages of Bengal with the hope of striking an attractive deal for the festive season. Some of them bag good contracts, while others are not so lucky and have to return to their villages disappointed. Few of them get a chance to go outstation like to Mumbai, Delhi, Jabalpur, Nagpur or even Bangalore where Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja.
Durga Puja is a massive affair spread out over a period of four hectic days, with different rituals being performed each day. The ingredients required in these rituals vary from simple things like dew drops, the soil dug up by rats and the soil from the doorsteps of a prostitute to a set of 108 lotus flowers.
By the time ’Mahalaya’ is over, the idol-makers commence work on the final decorations of Durga and her retinue. The craze everywhere is for themes. Some Puja organisers select a particular state as a theme – the idol decorations and even the surroundings and try to recreate the theme state in the heart of Kolkata. These are widely advertised over the TV and print media and attract devotees who arrive in large numbers decked out in all their finery to witness the spectacles of artistic decorations coupled with out-of-the-world lighting. These aspects have gained considerable importance because of the recognition and awards declared by leading business houses and corporate entities.
Early in the morning of Saptami, before sunrise, a banana plant is taken to the nearby river or source of water, cleaned and draped in a cloth along with nine types of leaves to form what is known as the Nabapatrika. The plants are kachu, haridra, jayanti, bel, dalim, ashok, mankachu and paddy. The banana plant itself is the ninth variety. This is a symbolic gesture of paying homage to Mother Nature. This banana plant is supposed to be the bride of Ganesha and the process is termed as ‘kala-bau’ snan. The ‘kala-bau’ is brought back in a procession to the sacred place of worship, located in a prominent place and the invocation of Durga begins.
From Saptami, people start visiting the pandals.
Chartered air-conditioned buses for specially conducted tours of high profile pandals is gaining popularity. For Rs 500 one can do the rounds and take in lunch as well. Road blocks are common. Children getting lost are routine. Youngsters walking barefoot holding on to their shoes by the shoe laces does not evoke laughter but pity because the poor souls have learnt where and how a new shoe pinches! Durgotsav comes but once a year – everyone wants it to be as memorable as possible.
The next day is Maha Ashtami – the main day of the Puja. In yesteryears, there used to be a compulsory sacrifice of an animal (lamb). Nowadays, a token sacrifice of some vegetable is still performed in domestic Pujas. In community Puja pandals, maximum number of devotees turn up to pray to Devi Durga for her blessings. Community lunches are also arranged on this occasion and devotees, irrespective of caste, creed or religion sit down together for lunch – usually of ’khichudi’. source: merinews
No comments:
Post a Comment