Like every year we sincerely thank all our members and active supporters who contribute to the successful organisation of the festivities. In this occassion I would like to call on all our members, friends and their families to once again come forward to support us through their creative and active support so that we can also make this years Durga Puja a grand success. Our friends across the continent get an unique opportunity to meet and interact with each other under one roof. The growing success of the previous years should inspire and motivate us even more to visit the Puja this year.
We would like to cordially invite all our friends, patrons and interested persons to visit the Durga Puja festivities in Cologne. We look forward to welcome you in large numbers as it has been in the last years as well.
Barun Chatterjee, President
on behalf of the executive committe
of Bharat Samiti
Programm 2008
| Saturday October 4, 2008 (Panchami) | ||
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| 17:00: | Panchami Puja | |
| 18:00: | Abahan | - Director: Rita Bandyopadhyay |
| 18:45:
| Speech
| - Barun Chatterjee, President, Bharat Samiti - Dr.Dr.Deichmann, Chief guest - Marlis Bredehorst, head of social affairs, integration & environment Cologne city council |
| 19:15: | Prasad Bitaran |
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| 20:30: | Kathak | - Durga Arya Krüger |
| 21:30:
| Anjali - Musical programm | - Anubhav Academy
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| Sunday October 5, 2008 (Sashti) | ||
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| 13:00: | Songs on request | - Guest artists |
| 17:00: | Bodhon & Sasthi Puja |
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| 18:30: | Cultural programm | - Young generation |
| 19:00: | Prasad bitaran |
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| 20:30: | Bollywood dance | - Gori ka naach, Brussels |
| 20:50: | Modern Dance | - Nabil Chowdhuri, Brussels |
| 21:00: | Bansuri | - Stephanie Bosch |
| 22:00:
| Folk song, Baul,
| - Ranju Sharkar, Florence Sharkar & Ensemble |
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| 17 -19 00 | Muri (Rice Crispiece) | Indian Bazar (whole day) |
| Monday October 6, 2008 (Saptami) | ||
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| 09:30: | Saptami Puja | |
| 11:00: | Anjali: | |
| 12:30: | Prasad bitaran | |
| 17:00: | Sandhi Puja, Anjali, Arati |
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| 18:30: | Yoga with Music | - Jharna Poddar |
| 19:00: | Prasad bitaran |
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| 20:30: | Modern songs | - Saira Bromm |
| 21:00:
| Songs & dance
| - Bhaswati Mitra & Kalamandalam Swarnadipa J.Mahanta |
| 22:00: | Sarad & Tabla | - Suman Sarkar & Subrata Manna |
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| Tuesday October 7, 2008 (Ashtami) | ||
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| 09:30: | Mahshtami Puja | |
| 11:00: | Anjali: | |
| 12:30: | Prasad bitaran | |
| 17:00: | Sandhi Puja, Anjali, Arati |
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| 19:00: | Prasad bitaran |
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| 20:30:
| Bhim Badh - childrens drama
| - Sanu Shikdar, Samhita Roy, Pranto Ghosh, Prasanna Ghosh, Archana Mitra, Agni Mitra |
| 21:00: | Magic | - Adwaita Nandy |
| 21:30: | Dance: Thar desert | - Anupama Smarzock & Ensemble |
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| 17 -19 00 | Henna Culture | |
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| Wednesday October 8, 2008 (Nabami) | ||
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| 09:30: | Mahanavami Puja | |
| 11:00: | Anjali: | |
| 12:30: | Prasad bitaran | |
| 17:00: | Puja, Anjali, Arati |
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| 19:00: | Prasad bitaran |
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| 20:30:
| Drama: Durga puja 2050 | - Bharat Samiti
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| 21:00: | Kuchipudi | - Jasmin Gopurathingal |
| 21:30: | Modern song | - Surasangam, Sujit Roy |
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| 13 -14 00 | Pan Masala | |
| Thursday October 9, 2008 (Dashami) | ||
| 10:30: | Dashomi Puja |
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| 11:00:
| Sindoor Khela, Bijoya Dashami |
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WHO IS MA DURGA?
She is the wife of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine (both friendly and fearful) forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms are Durga (goddess beyond reach) and Kali (goddess of destruction). Durga has ten hands and great power and energy (Shakti). Durga rides on a lion. The family of Lord Shiva, Durga and their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya, their daughters Lakhsmi and Saraswati is an ideal example of family unity and love. She has a charming personality. She is adored by married women for a happy married life.
THE LEGEND OF MA DURGA
In the ancient times, a demon called 'Mahisha' earned the favour of 'Brahma" after a long meditation. Brahma blessed him with a boon that no man or deity would be able to kill him. The invincible demon, Mahisha, started his reign of terror over the world. A strong army of demons was gathered to siege the abode of the Deities. The army was led by the king Mahishasura, the green skinned demon with the form of a giant buffalo. With its weapons of iron, and its phalanxes of elephants and charioteers the army finally marched on the king of gods, Indra, defeating him. Then, Mahishasura usurped the throne of heaven.
The victory was complete, and all the gods were driven out of the heaven. Routed they went to the trinity of the Supreme Gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to save themselves and the men on the world.
It was Shiva who advised all the devas to release their shaktis (spiritual prowess) locked within their bodies. The shaktis of the gods emerged in female form – Shivani from Shiva, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Brahmani from Brahma, Aindri from Indra, Kaumari from Kumara. These goddesses fused together in blinding light from which arose a magnificent goddess with many arms.
The gods called this goddess Durga, the invincible one. They armed her with their weapons – Varuna, the sea-god, gave her a rope; Indra, the god-king, gave her a thunderbolt; Vishnu gave her a discus; Kumara gave her a lance; Surya, the sun-god, gave her a bow and arrow; Chandra, the moon-god, gave her an axe; Yama, the god of death, gave her a mace; Brahma gave her a shield; Agni, the fire-god, gave her an axe; Vayu, the wind-god, gave her a conch; Shiva gave her a trident.
Now equipped with the fearsome weaponry and magical powers of the gods, and dressed in golden armor and jewels she set off, seated gracefully upon the lion.
His thunderous roars shook the three worlds. Oceans swelled up to scrape the sky and surf broke over the land. Continents were torn at their granite foundations as whole new chains of mountains rose, while older ranges crumbled, cracked, and gave way to dust in a thousand landslides. Seeing these cataclysmic ripplings in waves through all the three worlds, Mahishasura and his demon allies found their attention drawn from heaven to Earth.
Attracted by her beauty, Mahishasura came to the mountain and proposed marriage. "I will marry only he who defeats me in battle," said Durga. Mahishasura immediately attacked the goddess. She hurled many weapons at the buffalo-demon but each time he rose unscathed.
Surrounded by chants of praise, the blowing of horns the beating of drums and songs of worship by her fellows, Durga roamed the battlefield on her mighty lion. From her divine breath her army was constantly replenished with new warriors, each able, brave and resolute.
Shocked and enraged by the disastrous events on the battlefield. In a mad desperate bid Mahishasura then reverted to his own form, a buffalo, and charged about on the battlefield. In a wild rage he charged at Durga's divine soldiers wounding many, biting others and all the while thrashing with his long, whip-like tail. Durga's lion, angered by the presence of the demon-buffalo, attacked him. While he was thus engaged, Durga threw her noose around his neck.
But through magical spell Mahishasura kept changing his shape and form from one to another so as to puzzle the Devi.
Finally the Goddess beheaded the buffalo and from it emerged Mahishasura in his original form. Mahishasura, immune to the weapons of the gods, succumbed to the touch of her feet. Durga immediately impaled him with her trident and blew her conch in victory.
All the gods saluted this warrior-goddess and celebrated her triumph.
THE BENGALI BELIEF
Daksha, the king of the himalayas and the plains, and his wife, Menoka, had a daughter called Uma. Uma, right from her childhood, started worshipping Shiva as her would be husband. Shiva, being pleased with the worship of Uma, came to marry her. Daksha did not like this tiger-skin clad groom with ash & dirt spread over all of his body. Uma got married to Shiva but was prevented by her father from moving to Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Daksha, later on, arranged for a 'yagna' where everyone except Shiva was invited. Uma, feeling ashamed of the behaviour of her father and shocked by the attitude metted towards her husband, went on fast and finally died. Shiva came to know about this and went to Daksha's house. He lifted the body of Uma on his shoulders and started dancing madly. With the supreme power dancing, the World was on the verge of destruction. Narayana, another SuperGod, came forward as a saviour and used his 'Chakra' to cut the Body of Uma into pieces. Those pieces started falling off from the shoulder of the dancing Shiva into different parts of the World. Shiva was finally pacified when the last piece fell off from his shoulder. Narayana revived Uma for a new life. Daksha, who was extremely sorry about his misdeeds, prayed for mercy and was finally forgiven. The places where the pieces had fallen are known as the 'Shakti Piths' or energy pits, few of these places being Kalighat in Calcutta, Kamakshya near Guwahati among others. Ever since peace was restored, Uma, with her four children, Ganesh, Kartick, Saraswati and Laxmi and with her two 'sakhis' - Jaya and Bijaya, comes to visit her parent's home each year during the season of 'Sharat' or autumn when Durga Puja is celebrated.
(© text collected from various websites)
DURGA PUJA IN INDIA
The Durgapuja - a national festival of the Hindus takes place in the month of Aswin or Kartik i.e. months of September and October according to the Gregorian calendar year. when melow sun treads softly in Bengal landscape.
Puja Preparation
The city of Calcutta enlivens during the four days of Durga Puja, starting from the day of Bodhon on Maha-Shashti and ending up with the immersion of clay idols in the river Ganges on the evening of Dashami. Sharat brings a wisp of freshness in the air to welcome the advent of the mother Goddess. The wide blue sky, the mild fragrance of shiuli, glimpses of swaying Kash in the fields, and the chanting of Shakti mantras fill up the atmosphere.
Making of Idols
Bengal specializes in preserving the age old tradition of making clay idols. Such unmatched skills come in the limelight during the festive occasion of Durga Puja. Months before the Puja clay artisans start to breathe in life in the images of Durga. Bamboo sticks cut in various shapes and sizes are required to make the basic structure of the idols of Goddess Durga and the platform on which the colossal statue stands.
Durga's figure is then imparted shape with straw tied with jute strings. Creating fascinating figurines of Hindu Gods and Goddesses has been an age old tradition for the Pals (the clay artisans). Making of Durga idols is a lengthy and a back breaking process. This is done diligently and methodically by the artisans to create the most exquisite pieces of artistry. Such is the perfection of idol making, that the skeleton structure of bamboo and straw are done by one group of artisans while the clay mixing and applications are done by another group and finally the head, palms and feet are done by the highest graded artisans or Pals.
The second stage of idol making is applying the layers of clay. This is done in three steps. The straw figurine of Goddess is applied with the first coat of clay solution where the percentage of water is high. This application helps to fill the crevices left by the straw structure. The second layer is applied with great caution as it is the most important layer giving prominence to the figure. The clay mixed in this step is very fine without any impurities. Palms, head and feet which are separately made are attached with the main torso at this stage.
The heads, palms and feet are made of clay. Lot of skill goes in making the head of the idols of Goddess Durga. It is generally done by the highest graded Pals. The artisans make the head of the Goddess
with fine clay creating each feature with great care and skill.
This piece of art when completed is dried. Liquid plaster of Paris is poured over it to create a mould. On drying, the mould is then separated from the clay head. This mould being hollow is then used to create innumerable clay heads for the idols of Goddess Durga.
Finally pieces of cloth soaked in fine clay from the river bed of Ganges is applied on the joints of the figure which develops cracks after drying.
This thin coat of clay is applied to strengthen the joints. On completing the clay structure the figure is painted with white earth colour. Finally the whole statue is painted with pink or yellow earth colours. The last earth colour applied is the blood colour. The eyes
are then painted and other detailing are done by the main artist. The idols of Durga are then varnished. Hair made of jute is glued and then the idol is dressed and then ornamented.
Pandal making
Pandal making has taken a form of art. It is the abode of Goddess Durga for the four days of Durga Puja. Since the days of landed aristocracy, there used to be "Barwari Puja" or community Puja financed by the local zamindars.The mandaps were generally a extended hall of their residence. But today puja pandals are seen in
numbers at every street corner. These pandals are built according to well made plans. Bamboo poles, planks of wood and meters of cloth are needed to construct such amazing mammoth structures.
Skill and creative ideas are used to make the most exquisite and intricate designs which leave the viewers awe-struck. Built in such an elaborate and grand manner they appear stunning often depicting famous architectural splendors. These pandals are later decorated with galaxies of twinkling lights. The lighting worksattract huge crowds which depicts stories and legends of Durga Puja.
Home Preparation
Bengalis get busy preparing for its the time for welcoming friends and relatives, time to give away gifts and to prepare good food. The homemakers give a new look to their homes, purchase clothes to replenish their wardrobes and chalk out plans for the four days to come. Durga Puja is not only a religious festival but it has derived a new form of the greatest social festival. Durga Puja is a major event which sets the pace high for every Bengali. Every Bangali is busy setting up agendas for the four days of Durga Puja. This is the time when Bengalis socialize in a great way.
The festive occasion calls for the latest trends in fashion wear, designer clothes and the trendiest footwear. Marking Bengalis most popular festival there is a boom in the sales, discounts and free gifts offered by sellers in a manner which tends to out smart each other. Bengalis go for a unthinkable spree for shopping, buying the best and offering the best to friends and relatives. The atmosphere remains surcharged with fun and gaiety.
Durga Puja feelings
The images are immersed in the nearest river or tank. After this younger people bow down to their elders who in their turn embrace and bless them. Friends embrace and greet one another. On the Vijaya Dashmi day. Durgapuja, over the years, has outgrown its religious connotations to a large extent as people all over the state celebrate it with a gusto that's even shared by the Bengali Hindu living abroad. With feelings come to the consciousness of ourselves as inheritors of century old tradition and practice intermingling with historical ethos. A legacy that will last itself as long as festival exists, an awareness that will persist long after the origins of Durgotsava are drawn in the passage of time. Durgotsava has a special significance for women who look forward to this auspicious occasion to buy sarees and dresses for themselves and their family. During the Vijay Dashmi or Dasserra to the outsider married ladies participate in the sindoor utsav women smear the parting of Durga's hair with vermilion and again smear each other's hair parting with cermillions, the sign of marriage for a Bengali women. The alpana designs on the floor with rice flour paste are made by girls. To them Durga is treated as a loving mother or as a daughter of the family. They see the autumn festival as the annual home coming of Durga, the married daughter returning home to her parents from her husband's house for a period of four days. Women arrange everything from buying sarees, goods and gifts to clicking new delicacies etc. During the period the spirit transports one's soul into ecstasy of delight and one is struck with awe, and wonder when one delves deeper in Puja consciousness because it is more than a religious festival. It is a part and parcel of Bengal's life style.
(© text collected from various websites) source: http://www.durgapuja.de/
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