Durga Puja in Shillong
Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsab is an auspicious occasion which is prominently celebrated in the Indian state of West Bengal or Bengal. In the nine days long celebrations of Durga Puja festival, Goddess Durga, one of the most revered Goddess for the Hindus, is worshiped in different forms like as goddess of valor, wisdom and wealth. Although the festival of Durga Puja is celebrated mainly in the state of West Bengal but the festive spirit and joy is omnipresent throughout India and the other states of India like Manipur, Orissa, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra and Jharkhand also enjoy the jubilance of Durga Puja with great enthusiasm and devotion.
Apart from being a festival, Durga Pooja has become a social-cultural event that celebrates the cheerfulness of life, the vibrant culture, the set rituals and traditions. During the celebrations of Durga Puja, huge puja pandals are erected in which idols of Goddess Durga along with Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesha are placed and worshiped. Lots of dancing, singing devotional songs in praise of Goddess Durga, preparation of special festive dishes are also an integral part of Durga Puja celebrations.
.Following are the durga puja committees of Greater Shillong:
| 1. | A.C.Lane Puja Committee.Police Bazar, Shillong. |
| 2. | Account and Audit Estate Durga Puja Committee.Motinagar , Shillong. |
| 3. | Asom Kristi Kendra Puja Committee.Stonyland , Dhankheti , Shillong. |
| 4. | Assam Hindu Mission Durga Puja Committee.Mawprem Shillong. |
| 5. | Assam Rifles A.T.O. Puja Committee.Happy Valley Shillong. |
| 6. | Assam Rifles Regimental Centre Puja Committee.Happy Valley , Shillong. |
| 7. | Assam Sonathan Dharmasabha.Nongrim Road , Laitumkhrah , Shillong. |
| 8. | Barapathar Durga Puja Committee.Barapathar,Shillong. |
| 9. | Bishnupriya Manipuri Durga Puja Committee.Bomfyle Road , Shillong. |
| 10. | Burma Line Durga Puja Committee.(Opposite to G.E.) Shillong. |
| 11. | C.P.W.D. Durga Puja Committee.Cleave Colony , Shillong. |
| 12. | Dudgeon Line Saradiya Durga Puja Committee.(Near Anjalee Cinema) Shillong. |
| 13. | Greater Polo Hills Forest Colony Sarbajanin Durga Puja Committee.Shillong. |
| 14. | Hatath Colony Durga Puja Committee.New Kenche's Trace, Shillong. |
| 15. | Jail Road Durga Puja Committee.Puja Mandap , Jail Road , Shillong. |
| 16. | Kenche's Trace Puja Committee.Kenche's Trace, Shillong. |
| 17. | Kiran Line Durga Puja Committee.Near 58 GTC , Shillong. |
| 18. | Laban Namghar Puja Committee.Laban,Shillong. |
| 19. | Laban Shiv Mandir Durga Puja Committee.Laban , Shillong. |
| 20. | Lumparing Saradiya Durga Puja Samity.Lumparing, Shillong. |
| 21. | Lumparing Nepali Durga Committee.Lumparing , Shillong. |
| 22. | M.E.S. Durga Puja Committee.S.E.Falls , Shillong. |
| 23. | Maa Sherawali Mandir Puja Committee.Bara Bazar, Shillong. |
| 24. | Maidan Laban Nepali Durga Puja Committee.Maidan Laban , Shillong. |
| 25. | Malki Dhankheti Lachumiere Durga Puja Committee.Bawri Manson Shillong. |
| 26. | Mathura Compound Puja Committee.(Office Pandey Building) Shillong. |
| 27. | Matri Mandir Puja Committee.Polo Bazar , Shillong. |
| 28. | Matri Sangha Durga Puja Committee.Polo Bazar, Shillong. |
| 29. | Megna Committee Durga Puja.HQ (E.A.C.)IAF Shillong. |
| 30. | New Colony Sarbojonin Durga Puja Committee.Upper New Colony , Shillong. |
| 31. | Oakland Biver Road Durga Puja Committee.Oakland , Shillong. |
| 32. | P.W.D.Durga Puja Committee.P.W.D.Compound,Barick, Shillong. |
| 33. | Pragati Sangha Puja Committee.Keating Road , Shillong. |
| 34. | Puja Samiti Bengali Social Welfare and Cultural Committee.Nongmensong, Shillong. |
| 35. | Puja Sammelan Welfare Society.Minicipal Compound , Jail Road , Shillong. |
| 36. | Pynthorumkhrah Durga Puja Committee.Pynthorumkhrah , Shillong. |
| 37. | R.R.Colony Saradiya Utsav Samity.R.R.Colony , Shillong. |
| 38. | Rajbari Para Puja Committee.Polo Hills , Shillong. |
| 39. | Ramkrishna Mission Puja Committee.R.K.Mission Road , Laitumkhrah , Shillong. |
| 40. | Rihno Hall Puja Committee.Near Rihno Hall, Shillong. |
| 41. | Rilbong Durga Puja Committee.Rilbong , Shillong. |
| 42. | Sanathan Dharmasabha(Harisabha) Laban,Shillong. |
| 43. | Saradiya Durga Puja Samity.D.A.D.Colony.S.E.Falls , Shillong. |
| 44. | Sarbajaneen Puja Committee.Survey of India , Barick , Shillong. |
| 45. | Sarvajanin Assamiya Namghar Durga Puja Committee.(RuprekhaParishad) Lower Jail Road. |
| 46. | Sarvajanin Sri Durga Puja Committee. Nongmensong Social Welfare Association. Nongmensong |
| 47. | Shillong Hindu Dharmasabha Puja Committee.Thana Road , Shillong. |
| 48. | Shillong Police Reserve Puja Committee.Police Reserve , Shillong. |
| 49. | Sri. Sri. Aryavarta Durga Puja Committee.Garikhana , Shillong. |
| 50. | Sri. Sri. Gurkha Durga Mandir.Luckier Road , Shillong. |
| 51. | Sri. Sri. Nepali Durga Puja Committee.Lower Jail Road , Near Polo Tower , Shillong. |
| 52. | Sri. Sri. Rajasthani Durga Puja Samity.Luckier Road , Shillong. |
| 53. | Sri. Sri. Sarvajanik Durga Puja Committee.Fire Brigade , Shillong. |
| 54. | Sri. Sri. Sarvajanik Durga Puja Samity.C.W.E.S.E.Fals , Shillong. |
| 55. | Sri. Sri.Durga Puja Committee,Laitkor Peak , Shillong. |
| 56. | Sri. Sri.Durga Puja Committee.Happy Valley, AR Base,Shillong. |
| 57. | Sri. Sri.Gorkha Durga Mandir.Nongmensong , Shillong. |
| 58. | Sri.Sri.Sarbajanik Durga Puja Committee.Barapani, Umrai. |
| 59. | Upper Shillong Air Force Puja Committee.Upper Shillong. |
The festivities start with the first day called Mahalaya. It is also the day of the beginning of the countdown to the Durga Puja. The face of the goddess remains covered until the bodhon (unveiling) ritual is performed on Sasthi - the sixth day of the moon. Fast is observed on this day by women for the well being of their families.
The Goddess is worshipped as a kumari or young girl, and reveals herself in her true form Mahasaptami (the seventh day of the moon). On Mahastami (eighth day) and Mahanavami (ninth day) the celebrations reach a fever pitch. New shining clothes, smiling faces, dancing devotees, chantings of Mantras, spectacular display of lights and the rhythmic beat of dhak (drums) adds excitement to the festive occasion. On Vijay Dashami (tenth day) the idol of Durga is immersed in water after performing customary rituals. The ten-armed goddess dazzles the devotees with her splendour and appearance of fiery valour during her short stay every year.
The history of Durga Puja in Bengal dates back to the Mughal era. History says that the first Puja was organised by Raja Kangshanarayan of Teherpur, Nadia and then Raja Jagatnarayan of Bhaduria followed soon after.
Other Hindu kings too came forward and the puja spread far and wide to Gour, Raj Mahal, Murshibad and Krishnagar. By the mid of 18th Century, this festival had become the occasion for the nouveaux riches Babus of Kolkata to flaunt their wealth.
They invited Europeans in every evening of their feast to grace their occasion. The British too Participated enthusiastically and had ‘Prasad’ and did Pranam, often lying Prostrate on the ground.
Some believe that the Puja of Saborno Chowdhury is the oldest puja in the city and it started in 1610 AD near Behala Sakher Bazaar area. The second oldest Durga Puja was the Puja of Govindaram Mitra of Kumartuli in the earlier 1800 AD. Next renowned Puja was the Puja of Sovbazaar Raj Bari.
But gradually collective enterprises replaced the individual initiative. It was in 1790 AD that 12 Brahmin friends in Guptipara, Hooghly decided to institute Community Puja. Subscriptions were raised from neighbours. Thus started baro-yari Puja in Bengal which gained popularity in leaps and bounds.
Sarbojanin Durgotsab, as we know it today, started off much later in Kolkata, in the 1920s, with Shimlaya Byayam Samti and Bagbazar being the earliest.
But gradually collective enterprises replaced the individual initiative. It was in 1790 AD that 12 Brahmin friends in Guptipara, Hooghly decided to institute Community Puja. Subscriptions were raised from neighbours. Thus started baro-yari Puja in Bengal which gained popularity in leaps and bounds.
Sarbojanin Durgotsab, as we know it today, started off much later in Kolkata, in the 1920s, with Shimlaya Byayam Samti and Bagbazar being the earliest.
At present hundreds of Pujas are held in the city’s lanes and bilanes. But Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the pioneer who promoted the idea of Durga Puja all over India, during the pre independence era.
Yet over the years, the ritualistic aspect has been reduced to a large extent in the community Pujas. The accent is clearly on Crowd Pulling capacity. Earlier Pandals would be draped in two coloured cloth spread over tarpaulin held up by a bare framework of bamboo poles.
Gradually it was the turn of the much brighter halogen lamps. Now of course there are metal lamps. Yet innovative pandals take the cake in terms of generating visitors’ volume.
Yet over the years, the ritualistic aspect has been reduced to a large extent in the community Pujas. The accent is clearly on Crowd Pulling capacity. Earlier Pandals would be draped in two coloured cloth spread over tarpaulin held up by a bare framework of bamboo poles.
Gradually it was the turn of the much brighter halogen lamps. Now of course there are metal lamps. Yet innovative pandals take the cake in terms of generating visitors’ volume.
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