Bijoya Dashami marks the return of the Goddess to Mount Kailash

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Auspicious ever after
Bijoya Dashami marks the return of the Goddess to Mount Kailash and the end of an evil era, writes Subrata Chowdhury DURGA Puja is celebrated in various parts of India in different styles. But the one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the Goddess, in her aspect as power, to bestow upon humankind all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. The absolute prevails in its diffusible discreteness as Maya or Mahamaya, as she is more widely identified. According to the Puranas, King Suratha was the first devotee to worship Mother Durga during April in what is known as Basanti Puja. Again, Ram worshipped Durga in autumn, popularly known as Akaal Bodhan, to vanquish a transgressing Ravana and free Sita from his clutches. Durga, who was by then deified as the Shaktirupini, had killed the buffalo-demon Mahisasura. According to Hindu mythology, Mahisashura had driven the gods out of heaven and established his evil dominion there and this devil was a constant threat to the existence of the universe. Mahisashura could not be defeated by any god or man because of a boon he received after intense prayers to Brahma. Neither Indra, King of the Gods, nor Kumara, commander of the celestial armies, could stop him. In despair, the gods called on Vishnu for help and he confronted Mahisashura, first as Narasimha, the man-lion, and then as Varaha, the boar, but each time he failed to subdue the demon.Indra had obtained the consensus of all the gods who had, in turn contributed with their individual powers to attribute Maa Bhagavati with as many as 10 invincible weapons in her 10 arms in order to enable her to slay the devilish Mahisasura. On Navami, weapon after weapon was hurled at the buffalo demon but each time he managed to rise undefeated. Realising that her weapons had no effect on Mahisashura, Durga cast them aside, dismounted from her lion and with her bare hands sprang upon Mahisashura’s back. She kicked his head and the demon, immune to the weapons of all the gods, fell senseless at the touch of her feet. Durga then raised her trident and plunged it into the buffalo-demon’s heart, conquering the unconquerable.Dussehra celebrates this victory of good over evil and the end of the kingdom of Lanka. Durga gave Rama her blessings and showed the way to how he could slay Ravana.Call it occultism or science, it’s a natural process that by the end of every summer there is a natural calamity in the shape of flash floods or twisting cyclones that ravage the eastern part of the country. The advent of autumn sees it off. Rabindranath Tagore had written “... Bajitechhe Utsaber Basi, Kane Tai Positechhe Asi, Mlaan Chokhe Bhasitechhe Doorashar Sukher Swapan...” in his autumnal poem, Kangalini Meye.However, let us pray earnestly to the Almighty that peace prevails everywhere and hope that Aaschhe bochhor aabar hobey though the beat of the dhaak may sound retarded and morose on Bijoya Dashami. source: the statesman

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Bidding adieu till next year...

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Statesman News Service KOLKATA, Oct 9: Idols of goddess Durga and her entourage were lowered gently into the river Hooghly since Dashami morning. While some bid the Goddess a tearful adieu, most were busy dancing to the rhythmic beat of the dhak. Women of every locality gathered in their nearby pandals for sindur khela. Mrs Tuhina Dastidar of Manicktala Chaltabagan said: “More than one hundred women gathered at the pandal for sindur khela this morning. Before the idols were taken out of the pandal, like every year, dhunuchi nach has been performed."Approximately 2,000 devotees gathered at various ghats on the banks of the river Hooghly this afternoon to watch goddess Durga and her entourage be immersed. Women sounded the ullurdhoni and blew the conch. Coolies helped devotees down the slippery steps of the ghat to lower their beloved Goddess and her children into the river Hooghly. Nearly 450 small community pujas and nearly 359 domestic pujas will immerse Durga idols in the river Hooghly today. Kolkata Police and the Pollution Control Board have made arrangements to keep the river free from pollution. “It is always sad to say goodbye to the Goddess and Durga Puja, after four days of fun and happiness. But we're looking forward to next year and hope the puja comes quickly,” said Mrs Rama Bhattacharjee, a member of Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee. As the shadows grew longer on Dashami day, the purohit reverberated chants of Sanskrit hymns and sprinkled holy water from the Ganga on bowed heads of all who wished Durga Puja 2009 would come soon. source: the statesman

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'Living Durga' woos crowds in Durga Puja

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AgenciesPosted: Oct 09, 2008 at 1204 hrs IST

Kolkata, October 9: This is a puja pandal in Kolkata, now in the midst of the annual Durga Puja, with a difference. Scores of devotees, who spend hours in the streets admiring the numerous puja pandals with intricate architecture mimicking objects of art, are awe-struck when they come face to face with "living" goddesses at a simply decorated pandal in south Kolkata.
People have been thronging the tiny pandal where "living" goddesses, young girls playing Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati have substituted the idols.

The members of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya have been depicting the presence of 'Durga' and 'Asura' in all human beings by putting up three girls dressed up as Durga and her daughters - Lakshmi and Saraswati – at Spiritual Museum opposite Shambhunath Pandit Hospital on Elgin Road in Kolkata.

"Girls, who practise simple Rajyoga or meditation, have dressed up as goddesses and stand still on the pandal with Durga clutching a trident, Saraswati holding a veena and Lakshmi depicted with a pot of wealth," Brahmakumari Meera said.

However, the pandal is conspicuous by the absence of the Mahisasura who is slain by Durga. It also does not feature Durga's sons – Lord Kartik and Lord Ganesh.

"The asura usually sits at the feet of Durga. But this year Durga is slaying the five vices of lust, anger, greed, pride and infatuation. We planned to have kids to play Kartik and Ganesh but as they could not be expected to sit still for long, so we had to do away with that," Meera said.
The girl representing Durga holds the trident with two hands. The eight artificial hands fixed on her back on the wall hold instruments of "peace, cooperation, happiness, power, love, purity and humility".

The visitors also stand fixed, watching the "living goddesses" which are based on various themes. This year's theme depicts victory of Durga which comprises virtues in oneself over the vices of self which could be compared with the monsters being slain by Durga.
"How could they stay still without even blinking?" asked Sarbani Chatterjee, a visitor from Shyambazar in north Kolkata.

Chatterjee visits the "Jibanto" (Living) Durga pandal every year to see how someone could stand still even as people in the crowd wait for the living goddesses to blink or move. Voices like "look, Durga is moving" or "Saraswati is shifting her feet" or "Lakshmi is blinking" are often heard.

Surabhi, who stood as Saraswati, Lakshmi and Durga in the past two days of the festival, said, "As we overhear the comments we try to do our best but regular practice of meditation helps us to stand still for hours."

"I visited puja pandals on the first day and did not like the crowd. It is better to stay here and play goddesses," said Surabhi, a student of class VIII in Delhi Public School, when asked whether she had missed visiting puja pandals.

A curtain is pulled before the standing girls every five minutes to give them 2-minute break and let the crowd disperse. The "Living Durga" show is held from 7 pm to 12 midnight during the four-day of Durga puja except the last day of Bijoya Dashami.

"While standing on the pandal, we meditate which helps us not to get distracted by the crowd," Harsha, a teacher in National High School for Girls, said during a break.

Brahmakumari Meera of the organisation said they organised the Living Goddess show to create curiosity among people about meditation.

"When many visitors ask what helps the girls to stay still for such a long time, we explain them the benefits of meditation. Many of them come later to learn simple Rajyoga," she said.

Several girls offer to play goddesses and the authorities try to give them opportunity in turns. They procure the filigree from the market and decorate it themselves.

Visitors patiently wait in front of the pandal for the curtain to go up. They take photos of the "living goddesses" with mobile cameras and children look in wonder as devotional music plays in the background. source: express india

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Puja helps the elderly to get over loneliness

Kolkata, Oct 8 (PTI) With the rhythmic beats of the 'dhak' floating in the air, Durga puja has brought smiles on the faces of the elderly living in the old-age homes of Kolkata.Clad in new clothes, they move around with a new found happiness lighting up their lives, though temporarily, as they forget pangs of separation from their own families.Seventy-year-old Jamuna Sarkar and Nirmala Chakraborty, 80, both inmates of The Refuge, an old-age home for destitute and old women at Bowbazar, admit the thrill they experience at the sound of dhak (drum) and chanting of Sanskrit hymns during Durga puja."Durga puja is being organised in the home premises for the past three years and new clothes are distributed to the inmates to make 300-odd inmates happy during the four-day celebration," said an official of The Refuge.Most of the inmates are either physically or mentally handicapped and alienated from families for years since they came in the homes."Despite old age and acute arthritis in the knees, I look forward to the puja all through the year," Sarkar, a handicapped woman, said.Before the puja started in the home here, festival days used to be painful for them when they would stay huddled in the home as thousands of others enjoyed hopping from one beautifully decorated pandal to another in the city."Though nobody from my family visits me nor would I be able to roam around with children and grandchildren, yet we look forward to the puja to soak in the atmosphere," Chakraborty, another resident of the home, said. PTI

Durga Puja and Diwali movie releases

No new movie releases this Puja
Moumita Roy KOLKATA, Oct. 7: Pleased with the results of pre-Puja movies, film distributors have decided to postpone the Puja and Diwali releases. This move has left film-buffs with the option of taking a break from theatres or watch week-old movies again. Pre-Puja releases in Tollywood like Valobasha Valobasha and Chirodin i Tumi Je Amar have struck gold for film distributors as well as cinema hall owners. While Drona, released on 2 October, might not have reaped huge profits it’s not reason enough to bring in a new release during the festive season. In 2005 and 2006 theatres experienced tough times as both Ramzan and Durga Puja began in the same week and most film releases were pushed till Diwali. As a result, single screen theatres did not get an opportunity to cash in on the festive mood and had to seek consolation with low-budget releases. Till last year, the cinema hall owners were in favour of releasing several big banner films during Puja. This time their plans have changed even though Id was observed three days before the Pujas this year. A member of Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA) said: “Till last year, we were concerned about the Puja releases as a lot of cinema halls’ fate were dependent on their result. But this time, the success of the pre-Puja releases have curbed the apprehensions of distributors and hall owners. Moreover, the halls are not ready to change the current ones as they are still receiving good response from the audience.” He said earlier the film fraternity believed in the “survival of the fittest” theory but now the trend of releasing two big-banner, multi-starrer films on the same date does not go down well with film producers. This might be a cause for the delayed releases. Apart from this, the state government, in their attempt to help theatres has revised the special fire safety fee and licence renewal fee structure, saving hall owners from extra expenses. source: the statesman
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Clean and green Durga Puja theme

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Haridevpur
When festive fervour is combined with a sense of responsibility, a True Spirit puja is born. Several pujas in this south Calcutta locality have gone by the book this year, focusing on the simple dos and don’ts that go into creating a safe, eco-friendly environment for celebration.
Last year’s Model Puja, 41 Pally, has lived up to its billing by integrating an eco-friendly, hazard-free environment with an innovative theme. Discarded logs, barks and branches of trees form web-like walls and abstract animal forms line the path that leads visitors to the sanctum sanctorum. A revolving wooden door automates crowd control at the entrance.

The creativity on view is supplemented by amenities that most puja organisers usually do not bother to provide. The clean toilets are a welcome change and the first-aid section even has camp cots. A trained nurse and an ambulance complete the medical arrangements.

Sodepur Pragati Sangha is not far behind 41 Pally when it comes to following the True Spirit commandments. There are emergency exits at the pandal, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and a well-stocked first-aid section.

Vivekananda Park Athletic Club, whose efforts in 2007 were rewarded with a Three Star rating, has turned its pandal into a riot of colours this year. Tiny origami flowers, swans and spiders adorn the painted bamboo walls, fortified with fire-retardant spray.

Ajeya Sanghati’s colourful caves and dunes, with a 14-foot Devi seated in the middle, make for a visual treat. There are emergency lights and water pipes in every corner. But the winding passage could have been illuminated better.

A potter from Lakshmikantapur village sits inside the pandal at Sarat Pally Sarbojonin Durgotsav and displays his skills in front of curious visitors. But the novelty is spoilt by the lack of attention to waste disposal. The drains flanking the entrance have been left open and the surroundings aren’t clean.

The fire-safety measures and first-aid facilities at Naskarpara Palli Unnayan Samity seemed inadequate. On the other hand, Amar Dip Sangha’s earnestness showed in the safety arrangements.

Maniktala
It is the story of David and Goliath on this stretch. Except that David and Goliath are often on the same side.

For example, Goliath Maniktala Chaltabagan Lohapatti Durgapuja, a former Five Star winner on Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani, and David Tekiapara Sarbojanin Durgatsav, a 104-year-old baroari puja, are promoting the same cause — that of a safe and happy puja.

Chaltabagan with its pandals and figurines made of metal sieves is not just innovative but also eco-friendly. The organisers have used two alternative sources of energy, wind and solar power. There is even a tiny “windmill” on top of the pandal.

The helpline numbers are displayed in three languages. With 10 CCTV cameras, back-up sources of power, fire extinguishers, drums of water and a medical booth with nurses, doctors, an oxygen cylinder and a bed, the organisers have left no stone unturned to make the puja a success.

The use of resources was impressive at the small and homely Tekiapara puja. The cloth and bamboo pandal, presenting a rural scene, had not, however, been sprayed with fire retardant chemicals (the organisers said it was beyond their means). Two pipes were connected to overhead tanks of neighbouring buildings as a precaution against fire.

The puja had a well-stocked first-aid box, three dustbins and a hand-drawn map showing the way out. The organisers perform community service throughout the year.

Rammohan Roy Road Durga Puja Committee’s effort was just as charming. The pandal looks like Auroville, the ashram formed by Sri Aurobindo Society. The goddess is dressed like a bride, in keeping with the theme “badhu beshe Uma” (Durga as Uma dressed as a bride).

The organisers’ initiative to restore an institution that houses 16 underprivileged boys won them points but the rather average crowd control measures disappointed.

The Uttar Kalikata Sarbojanin Durgatsava puja was decorated with white beans, sesame seeds, mustard, cucumber, gourd, bitter gourd and pumpkin seeds. The straw roof of an adjoining enclosure is highly flammable but the organisers seem oblivious to fire hazards.

Another disappointment was Sammilita Lalabagan Sarbojanin. Despite its straw and twig pandal being a fire hazard, fire extinguishers were not in place by Saptami afternoon.

Bhowanipore
From small housing estate pujas to lavish big-budget affairs, there is a cross-section of pujas in this area.

The puja organised by Nizam Palace Resident Officers’ Association is homely and has resident doctors and electrical engineers chipping in to fulfil the True Spirit criteria.

Harish Park Sarbojanin Durga Puja, an old participant in the True Spirit award, is a disaster. It neither has safety precautions in place nor are there provisions for drinking water, garbage disposal and first aid.

In contrast, 64-year-old 22 Palli Sarodotsab has everything, from emergency lighting to a ramp and wheelchair for the physically challenged to fire fighting equipment, in place. The pandal is modelled on a Hindu temple. The organisers have paid extra attention to security this year, installing CCTV cameras at the gates and employing 30 NCC cadets.

“There are many non-Bengalis in our para, so we are worshipping Hanuman, Vishnu and other gods and goddesses along with Durga and her children,” said Barun Chatterjee, an organiser.
The other star attraction, Chakraberia Sarbojanin Durgotsav, has nabapatrika as its theme. Fire retardant material has been used on dry leaves and hay. The ground had been layered with sand so that panda-hoppers do not have to wade through muck in case of rain.

Woodwork was used by many of the pandals, from Bhowanipore Swadhin Sangha to Forward Club, which had sprayed fire retardant chemicals on the pandals and kept fire extinguishers in every corner.

Lake Town- Dum Dum

Tribal themes and big budget pujas have stolen the show in Lake Town. Some small pujas, too, have managed to hold their own, thanks to team work.

The Rs 9-lakh Lake Town Adhibasi Brinda puja showcases splendid artwork in jute. The state or the mother is on a chariot drawn by 19 horses representing the 19 districts of West Bengal. Fire prevention and security arrangements were good but first-aid arrangements were being ignored on Saptami morning.

The Netaji Sporting Club puja was an exercise in opulence. “Most of our club members pay Rs 10,000 each to make this Rs 7-lakh puja a success,” said organiser Samiran Talukdar. The pandal, which depicts tribal culture, has CCTV cameras, security guards and fire extinguishers. Metal detectors, too, are being put to use in the evening. The first-aid room is also well-equipped. Tribal shows have been planned to entertain pandal-hoppers.

Performances by tribals from Orissa are an attraction at another puja with tribal theme, Sreepally Welfare Association. Here, first-aid facilities are available only in the evening.
Jawpur Bayam Samity is showcasing the folk art of Raghurajpur and Pipli. The pandal has only one entrance and exit, posing crowd management problems.

Nabadiganta Abasan Kalyan Samity depicts a beautiful collage of city and rural life on a piece of cloth. The waste disposal arrangement on the premises is a disappointment.

Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra created a black-and-white chess board, symbolising “the tussle of good and evil, human aspirations and global warming”. A peace message is also thrown in. Even the idol is in black and white.

Dolls from Midnapore adorn the Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha puja. The pandal and the adjacent water body were strewn with diyas. There were fire alarms and smoke detectors but no first-aid box.

“Mogoj dholai” (brainwashing) from Satyajit Ray’s Hirak Rajar Deshe is the theme at Greenpark Block B Sarbojonin Durga Puja. The sanctum sanctorum is full of scientific instruments. Sukdeb Das, a resident of the area, is doing a Santosh Dutta in the evening.

The Sinthee Agragami Sangha puja is the fruit of team effort. Even children helped in putting up the pandal, that depicts rural Bengal. Baul and kabigaan performances have been lined up in the evening.

Team effort was also evident at the puja organised by Central Park Nagoric Committee, made up of senior citizens.

Central Calcutta

Most pujas in central Calcutta score high on innovation and aesthetics but lose out on safety. Snaky alleys lead to pandals sitting cheek by jowl with residential buildings, as is the case with Madhya Kolkata Sarbojonin, opposite Medical College and Hospital, and Sishu Sangha. The pujas are disaster-prone despite safety measures being adopted.

Kumartuli Sarbojanin is another case in point. The electrical wires are in bad shape and there is no generator either. Human skulls and bones have been used to recreate a church in Sedlec, a town near Prague. The goddess has 30 hands, and holds lotuses instead of weapons.

Pujas like Pathuriaghata 5 Pally and Ahiritola Sarbojonin are exceptions. They have electric meters isolated from the main pandal, generators, firefighting equipment and CCTV cameras. There are first-aid kits and drinking water arrangements and the toilets are clean. Emergency numbers are prominently displayed.

The 5 Pally puja in Pathuriaghata showcases Indian classical dance with matchstick figures. The Rs 6-lakh Ahiritola Sarbojonin portrays the development of man from hunter-gatherer to farmer and herdsman. Iron sheets have been cut or beaten into shape to represent the sculptures.

Nearly 8,000 dolls have been used in the 43-year-old Darpanarayan Thakur Street Pally Samiti puja, said organiser Swapan Basak. A panel near the entrance shows development in doll-making. The pandal itself is cramped and music was being played too loud. The puja will donate Rs 11,000 to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Chowringhee High School Interact Club has organised a small puja with a big heart. The Rs 40,000 puja on the school premises, with save-the-environment theme, has been conceived and executed by students. It tries to promote communal harmony. Clean toilets, a first-aid counter and helpful volunteers make this puja a pleasure to attend.

Nagarik Kalyan Committee and Byabsayee Brind in Wellington, a first-time True Spirit entrant, has Rabindranath Tagore’s Sahaj Path as the theme. If you are found smoking here, you will be made to deposit your packet of cigarettes and collect it when you leave. There are separate entrances for men and women.

The smoking ban is given only lip service at other pandals. There is the “no smoking” sign, but no one to enforce it.

Ahiritola Sarbojanin Saradotsav scores for its elaborate sand sculptures of Durga and Mahishasura swallowing the earth by noted artist Sudarshan Pattnaik. The goddess is made of sea shells. At 20 Pally Sarbojanin on Brindaban Basak Street, lanterns made of tin containers, light the way.

Inputs by Mohua Das, Chandreyee Chatterjee, Malini Banerjee, Chandreyee Ghose and Romila SahaPictures by Pabitra Das and Amit Datta

Clarification: Barisha Youth Club (not Behala Youth Club as mentioned in Monday’s edition of Metro) is the organiser of Paschim Barisha Sarbojanin.
source: the telegraph india

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Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata replicates Nano factory

Monideepa Banerjie

Monday, October 06, 2008, (Kolkata)

It's festival time once again in West Bengal. But the Durga Puja this time is being held under a looming cloud over the exit of the Nano from Singur.

And one Puja pandal is sure to see high footfalls this year is the Santosh Mitra Square in central Kolkata where the theme is the people's one lakh car.

The Goddess looks on from this pandal, perhaps a little wistfully as it's only a replica of the Nano. The real thing has left Bengal for good.

"The small car project should be in West Bengal and should be within one lakh rupees. So we have produced Tata's Nano car," said Pradeep Ghosh, Organiser, Santosh Mitra Square.

All that, of course, is now wishful thinking. But this pandal, which looks like a factory from the outside, is drawing huge crowds already.

"The factory has been locked up, just like that in Singur but the atmosphere is congenial here," said Dipankar Chakrobarty, a student.

Had the Tatas not announced their exit from Singur before the Durga Puja, you can be sure that some devotees of the Goddess would have been seeking divine intervention to keep the Nano in Bengal. Perhaps some still are. source: ndtv.com

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'Durga Puja losing its essence'

With Durga Puja festivities peaking on Wednesday, many eminent Bengalis feel its essence is being lost in the rush for commercialization and media publicity but nevertheless associate with it "goodness" and "magic" that make it a "larger-than-life" celebration. Durga Puja is like a real life cinema, thinks noted film director Gautam Ghose.

"Durga Puja has everything larger-than-life about it. Idol of Goddess Durga stabbing Mahishasura with her ten hands holding ten weapons, Her four children - Ganesha, Laxmi, Saraswati and Kartik - their 'vahanas' (steeds), and the legends attached to them, is more interesting than any film," Ghose told IANS.

"But I must say nowadays we are losing the essence of Durga Puja. Neither there is the soft carpet of 'shiuli' flowers (which blooms at this time of the year), nor the swaying white 'kaash' flowers across the green fields," said Ghose.

With theme Pujas replacing the traditional ones, devotion is giving way to competition and publicity.

"I love the traditional Durga Pujas held in old zamindar (landlord) families in Kolkata. The Durga idol seems so alive and the environment is so divine. But with the increasing number of theme Pujas taking place, the organisers are only concerned about media publicity, prizes offered by various media houses and other companies," said dancer-cum-actor Mamata Shankar. Writer Sunil Gangopadhyaya feels that whether good or bad, Durga Puja celebrations have become a part of people's genes and they can't live without it.

"If you are a Bengali or a resident of West Bengal you can't help but fall in love with this festival, with or without reason. This festival - good, bad, ugly - has become a part of our genes. And we celebrate it not just for the sake of Goddess Durga but to awaken the goodness and kill the demon in us," he said.

There is no doubt in the mind of noted magician P.C. Sorcar (Junior). "For me Durga Puja is synonymous with magic. This is the only festival that has the power to shower so much happiness on every one. I am filled with child-like enthusiasm a month before the Pujas, planning how to celebrate this festival like never before. But one never gets enough of it," he said.

The debate on the advantages and disadvantages of Durga Puja continues. Author Mahasweta Devi told IANS: "I don't believe in Durga Puja, it's wastage of time, energy and money. Especially this year with so much tragedy happening to the Singur farmers, I think celebrating Durga Puja is a way to prove that we are hypocrites and selfish."sourcE: http://www.hindustantimes.com

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Foodlovers await the grand feast, Kolkata Durga Puja

Sulagna Sengupta KOLKATA, Oct. 2: Durga Puja is not just about spending time with friends or relatives, pandal-hopping and breaking up life’s routines. For gourmands (food-lovers) this is the time to taste lip-smacking dishes. City-based hotels and restaurants are preparing delicious recipes as part of the festive season. Apart from introducing new entrees, hotels will prepare traditional Bengali food as a part of the buffet lunch. Mr Samir Pandita, food and beverage manager of ITC Sonar Bangla said: “We will serve mouthwatering Bengali delicacies as a part of our buffet lunch from Sashti to Dashami. We are also planning to cook some popular dishes of various states just to give food-lovers a change.” The traditional spread starts with pulao, mug dal / mushur dal, panch rakamer bhaja, followed by vegetarian delicacies like mochar ghonto, potoler dolma, chhanar dalna, dhokar dhalna, enchorer dalna, and finally the non-vegetarian dishes like posto machh, eilish maachher paturi, bhapa illish, daab chingri, tel koi, macher jhal, kachhi pathar jhol and lastly amer chatni, roso malai / mishti doi. Other hotels have chosen a different theme for visitors. Mrs Anjana Bharat, director of Kenilworth Hotel said: “We have organised a food festival which will serve Pujor Bhog Thali, Punjabi Bhog Thali, Nitya Anna Dhanam, and Maharashtrian Bhog Thali. Everyone has different tastes, and by offering different kinds of thalis, we hope we can meet individual requirements.”For Bengalis, the festival is incomplete without gorging on traditional food. The Park Hotel is hosting a special buffet called Pujo Maha Bhoj this Ashtami and Nabami, where the traditional favourites like aloo dum, dhokar dalna, kosha mangso and chingri malai curry will entice the crowds. Their Indian restaurant Saffron is hosting a chingri and mishti festival where patrons can enjoy special chingri and sweet desserts. While elaborating on their special delicacies that will be prepared during the four days of the puja, Mr Debasish Ghosh, senior business development manager of Mainland China said: “We simply concentrate on Chinese delicacies and we will try to introduce various items to suit the needs of diverse people.” However, Mr Tapas Sengupta, manager of Marco Polo Restaurant said: “Although we have not yet decided what extra dishes we will prepare to cater to the huge rush of customers, we are planning to introduce Indian and continental dishes at our Park Street restaurant.” source: the statesman

Durga Puja City of Joy, Kolkata

It's almost here!
As Durga Puja arrives, it brings together family and friends, and our City of Joy reveals its true colours in all its glory, say Coordinators about this much- awaited festival As Durga Puja, the annual autumn festival which brings families and friends together and tugs at the strings of our hearts, arrives, Kolkata ~ the City of Joy, reveals to us its true colours in all its glory… and each of us make preparations to make the pujas memorable, fashionable and truly unique. However, as the city malls and markets fill to the brim, let’s take a ride through the many colours of the Durga pujas in Kolkata…lShopping: Evidently one of the best-loved activities of the average human being, one of the first signs of the approaching pujas is overcrowded shopping malls that give rise to a lot of pushing, elbowing and breathless hunting for space. The air becomes thick with flying clothes; light-hearted chatter combines with raucous music and the typical bargaining follows, turning it into a welcome pandemonium.l Pandal hopping: This characteristic feature of the pujas comes in two separate ways for a teenager - going around with relatives at midnight, groggy-eyed and drowsy or with friends ~ whining, complaining and often bare-foot due to uncomfortable new shoes (that are usually held in the hand) that hadn’t really been designed for the purpose of walking….l Para adda: The inevitable “bangali” spirit is expressed through this key aspect of pujas. Stripped of responsibility, worry or work, Bengalis get together, usually in the full or (luckily) empty pandals, and start what’s called “para’r adda” where the most pointless things are talked about… including major forms of PNPC (for ignorant souls, it means para ninda, para charcha) and gossip ranging from the level of harmless banter to rather hurtful comments. However, the greatest feature of this greatly modified form of “civilised conversation” is the not-very-synchronised sounds of laughter that emerge from each group of people, as each seems to have different wavelength and volume, which, under the same roof is the cause of cheerful harmony!l Junk food: The mere thought of pujas will make most mouths water because pujas most definitely means junk food. And while this category usually involves innumerable packets of chips and uncountable bottles of coke from which the fizz is completely lost, the most promising food item for this festival is definitely the one that is the cheapest and devoid of effects of inflation - the mouth-watering, ever-delicious and eternally economical phuchkas. However, with the ever-increasing number of phuchkas that teenagers can stomach nowadays, even this cheap food item ends up being a rather expensive round of treat.The crowd is almost always distinctly divided into groups ~ the cool, teenage ones consisting of girls and boys (or rarely, only boys or only girls), the one with a bunch of boys who bear striking resemblance to stalkers (or how I imagine them to look!), the young girls’ group who somehow don’t really know what they are themselves up to, the moms’ group that consists of members who feel rather offended on being referred to as the “mohila samity” and the dads’ group. However, drama usually finds itself at home among the first group of people ~ the teenagers. Ranging from playful trips around the city to great fights (and that’s putting it in a sober manner), everything turns out to be more theatrical than real! And of course, there’s a minor factor that every year there’s a certain discovery of some neighbour who deserves to be befriended.lCommunity lunch: It is a tradition in my block and many others ~ community lunch. It involves teenagers skittering everywhere serving food to their fellow neighbours, shouting and screaming instructions to each other, all in a state of bliss where each one is unaware of what they are really doing. For those eating and those serving, it is but a treat to the taste buds and of course, the heart.And, beyond all of this organised chaos, lie the exclusive preparations for the pujas ~ dance and play rehearsals, stuffing cottonwool into ears because the para band is practicing next door, exclusive whining to go for shopping and bunking tuitions for the cause, and mental preparation is always called for. And, as the five days of sheer ecstasy arrive, they truly seem to be a blessing to us with all the laughter and enjoyment as the typical “Bangla spirit” returns to us after a year full of looking towards the west for inspiration. However, the best part of it all is indeed in its close for it includes “dhunuchi nitya” to the beat and rhythm of the “dhakis”, watching mothers indulging in “sindoor khela” and final preparations to bid farewell to Maa Durga while yelling “Ashchey bochhor abar hobe!.” And, as most of us kids run away as people offer us (more) sweets for “bijoya”, we slowly and steadily return to the normalcy of life.Aankhi Mukherjee, Calcutta Girls’ High SchoolWe all deserve it “… due to sp hybridization, the electrons in the s and p orbitals lose their identity and…” Out of habit, I scribbled down the notes in my chemistry notebook. From somewhere outside the great window of my classroom, the sweet twitter of a bird drifted into my ears, distracting me for the moment. But, I couldn’t afford to be distracted. I had to write down each and every word sir said; I simply couldn’t miss anything….Once again I heard the song. How sweet it sounded, what a nice change it was from the monotonousvoice of the teachers that my tired ears were accustomed of hearing! It was as if the song was calling me, asking me to join in its unknown merriment, to celebrate its secret joy. But, I knew I couldn’t…I had other priorities now, like my career, like my future…at least that’s what everyone says…. I went on scribbling faster, harder. And then, I heard it. Softly at first… then louder… still louder… till it almost reverberated among the white clouds in the azure blue sky. It was the sound of Dhak… the exhilarating sound of the rhythmic beats that had for years on been used as a medium to spread joy, to tell everyone that there was a reason to celebrate, that Ma Durga was finally coming. The sound of the dhak seemed to me to be the sweetest music. I felt an inexplicable happiness. The sound seemed to tell me that finally I was free. Finally that time of the year had come when we could put down our burdens and celebrate the many joys of our life, celebrate the togetherness that we share, and above all celebrate the fact that we are ‘Bangalis’. That Durga Puja was just round the corner was nothing new to me. But when I heard the sound of the dhak, I realised that Durga puja was indeed coming. It was as if the beats of the dhak had magically transformed everything around me. Suddenly the world didn’t seem to dull and mundane. The skies seemed wonderfully blue, the trees seemed awesomely green and the song of the bird seemed, if possible, even sweeter. Indeed, so lost had I become in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize that our chemistry sir had finished with hybridization and was now boring us with details about spatial arrangement. But today I didn’t care about any theories of chemistry or about any physics problem or biological applications. Today I just wanted to laugh, to shout out, to tell one and all that the Pujas were coming… Finally… I had something to look forward to. And that’s exactly what Durga puja is, right? It is something that we all look forward to, something that keeps us going through the entire year. Durga Puja has different implications for different people. To some it means new clothes, to others it means going on a vacation with family and to a few others its means unlimited fun. As for me, it means a change. A change from the usual mundane life, change from the daily burdensome routine. Puja is that one time of the year, when I can go back to being a child. And like in my childhood days, I still sit down to count the number of new dresses I got, and even fight with my sister over who has the more beautiful clothes. Roaming about in the pandals with my family and friends, I once again feel like the little child who holding her father’s hand tightly used to go pandal-hopping around the city. Over the years, as I have grown up, the essence of so many things and situations has changed for me. I have grown to like many new things and have forgotten about many old things that I once loved. But Durga Puja, is one such festival whose implication could never change for me. It was always to me a source of inexplicable joy and happiness and will remain so forever. If someone asked me why Durga puja is so special to me, I probably won’t be able to give a proper answer. Durga puja is special because I love it, I look forward to it, I enjoy it. Durga Puja is special because I have many fond memories associated with it; it’s special because it is one time of the year when all joy and all happiness of the world are personally mine. It is special because over the years we Bengalis have made it special. So my dear friends, now that once again Durga Puja is just round the corner, let’s decide to make this puja very, very special for everyone. Buy great clothes, hang out with friends, eat all types of junk food available and have the biggest share of fun, ‘cause we all deserve it.
Happy Pujas!
Debadrita Bhattacharya,Patha Bhavan
sourcE: thestatesman
Durga Puja Kolkata West Bengal Durga Puja

West Bengal Kolkata Durga Puja

Bengal steps up surveillance for Durga Puja

Govt tells organizers to erect watch towers at puja venues, asks hospitals to be ready to handle any emergency

Rajdeep Datta Roy

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has stepped up efforts to cope with emergencies ahead of the Durga Puja—the state’s biggest festival—asking five largest state-run hospitals here to set aside 50 beds each and giving them Rs10 lakh each to to stock medicines and boost infrastructure.

“It was just a rumour that took 150 lives,” said Subrata Narayan Sarkar, special commissioner of Kolkata Police, referring to Tuesday’s stampede in a temple in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

“It does not (even) have to be a crude bomb. Whispers can be killing,” he said, adding that the police are more “alert this year than ever before”.

The city hasn’t faced a terror attack since January 2002, when security personnel guarding the American Centre were shot at. Four policemen were killed and 20 injured in the incident.

The state’s home secretary, Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti, said although there are no specific inputs from intelligence agencies, the administration wasn’t taking chances.

Sarkar said the government has stepped up surveillance in the past few weeks, but the biggest concern is lack of crowd management methods. The most vulnerable are the popular community pujas, which draw hundreds of thousands of visitors during the five-day festival that begins on Sunday.

Puja organizers have been told to install surveillance cameras and erect watch towers, while the police are training locals to manage the crowd, he said. “We are relying heavily on local people though we are going to deploy over 15,000 policemen.”

But the organizers of most community pujas say they do not have the resources to maintain a strict vigil. “Neither do we have the money, nor people,” said Subir Ghosh, joint secretary of Bosepukur Sitala Mandir Durgotsav Committee, which organizes a popular community puja in south Kolkata. “When central agencies are failing to check terror, what could we do?”

But not all have given up and some are going the extra mile to protect visitors. While sniffer dogs will be deployed at Babubagan Sarbojonin Durgotsav in south Kolkata, Shuruchi Sangha Club in New Alipore area would be providing walkie-talkies to volunteers to manage the crowd.

Meanwhile, the state’s health department, which is trying to launch trauma care centres at the five major Kolkata hospitals ahead of the puja, wants to turn them into permanent facilities. “It will not be a one-off measure but will continue even after the puja, Diwali and Kali Puja,” said Krishnangshu Ray, medical superintendent and vice-principal at state-owned RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The other measures planned by the state health authorities at these hospitals include the setting up of teams of multidisciplinary experts who will be on call through the festivities.

“Our doctors are well trained but in case the need arises, we will get in touch with army doctors,” said Anup Roy, medical superintendent and vice-principal of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, which has already held initial discussions with the Army.

The government, however, doesn’t seem to have paid much attention to the blood banks. “The stock fluctuates depending upon donors,” said Roy, admitting that no special arrangements have yet been made to keep donors on standby. The state-run Central Blood Bank currently has a stock of 5,000 units—the maximum it can store. Its director A.K. Mondol said, “We have an average stock of 5,000 units and we haven’t got any directive to augment it. I can’t just stockpile blood which has a (shelf) life of one month.”

A paucity of ambulances is another issue that the government seems to have overlooked. Even the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s fleet is in a shambles.

“We have about a dozen ambulances, but many are in the workshop,” said deputy chief municipal health officer J.C. Roy. “Even those that are there are old and not equipped to provide emergency medical services,” he added.

Romita Datta and Aveek Datta contributed to this story.

sourcE: livemint.com

Kolkata Durga Puja, Last-minute shopping is more fun!

KOLKATA, Sept. 28: Being the last Sunday before Durga Puja, it seemed as if the entire city was out on the streets as shopaholics from the suburbs joined the crowds.With weather playing spoilsport for the last couple of days, Kolkatans were out to get the best bargains in family stores around the city. The situation in popular haunts such as New Market, Gariahat and Shyambazar was far from normal. Some visitors at an Esplanade shopping plaza had to wrest their way into stores and compete for the attention of shopkeepers. Shop-owners, however, are keen to attract more customers. They deployed temporary workers, carrying umbrellas, to help visitors reach the respective shops. “It is hectic to attend to every visitor and show garments and accessories to match their preferences. So, we have engaged an additional number of sales clerks,” said a Citi Mart spokesperson. It was even more difficult to walk through the crowded streets as Puja pandals were encroaching the streets and barricades had been put up by the traffic police and Public Works Department. Major thoroughfares were blocked with long queues of vehicles. But even traffic snarls couldn’t keep back the last-minute shoppers. “As this is the last weekend for us to complete our shopping we have no other choice,” said Ms Supriya Ray of Bandel. n SNS