It's 8 pm in California and I am glued to the television to watch a live stream of Durga Pujo back in Kolkata, India. As I am miles away from home; this year for me is pure nostalgia.
Durga Pujo - The festival of the fall or Sharadotsav as we Bengalis say is one of the world's biggest street carnival. What makes Durga Pujo so special and Bengalis so crazy about the festival is because it's FREAKING AWESOME!!
The sheer excitement of Pujo aashche ( the wait for pujo), the last-minute rush for pujo shopping, asking your friends and cousins about "Kota Jama Holo". It's not just Ma Durga's homecoming but also an excuse for friends and family to get together and enjoy these 5 days.
Till last year, pujo meant whole night pandal hopping with friends and family, waiting in queues and squeezing through a human swam for hours to get a glimpse of that famous pandal, Durga idol, and lighting decor. And how can I forget to take SELFIE with Ma Durga at the backdrop while Baba giving continuous bokuni (upbraid) to move ahead? Pujo meant to pray and give anjali with ma, baba and asking baba for a biryani feast at shiraz or amenia and various other bhuribhoj. One has to be in the city of joy - Kolkata to feel it when the city looks like a newly wedded bride. The city turns into a big street carnival with people thronging from all walks of life despite their caste/creed/religion/nationality- this festival is SARBOJONIN meaning for all. The festival represents a breathtaking display of Pandals(Festive Tents) and Idols made with clay with their innovative themes and exotic artwork which is a spectacle to watch with not only eye-catching craft work but also with powerful social messages as it's a theme. Pandals are the center of attraction during pujo made with bamboo frames, clothes, and other materials.
For Bengalis, Ma Durga is the symbol of Shakti and epitomizes the triumph of good over evil. She is depicted as a warrior with ten hands carrying different weapons with hand gestures or mudra representing the teachings of life. Her arms carrying Chakra, Conch, Sword, Club, Lotus Flower, Bow and Arrow, Trishul, and Fourth Lower hand represents Dharma to perform our duties sincerely, to be happy in life, to eradicate the evil within us, to face all difficulties with courage, to forgive oneself and others, to not get intimidated by limitless power and control animalistic behavioral thought process like anger, greed, jealousy. Her mount - the ferocious and powerful Lion; she reminds us to control such feelings and use the power within us to protect the virtue.
The festival means lip-smacking food, illumination of extravagant lights and Bengali's favourite ADDA. For Bengalis, pujo also means-
# Pandal Hopping - Pujo means pandal hopping with friends and family some time for the entire night. Pujo means to walk, walk and walk and get either a muscle cramp next day or to get a blister from the new sandal.
# Dhaak and Dhunuchi Naach - Pujo means to wake up to the sound of dhaak(drum) and dance to its rhythm with dhunuchi or earthen pots filled with coconut fiber and incense. The aroma from dhunuchi is so mesmerizing and beat of dhaak so foot-tapping, you just can't sit idle but dance. I really can't think of another song but to sing " Dhaker thaale komor dole; Khushi te naache mon".
# Pet Pujo- We Bengalis love food and pujo means closing the home kitchen and enjoy bhog at pandals with khichuri, labra, payesh, chatni and mouth-watering street food like phuchka, rolls, biryani, fish fry, telebhaja and so on and on and on...
# Let it glow - Pujo means an extravagant display of creative installation of lights from Chandannagar. For me, since childhood sparkling lights always meant College Square.
# Pujor Adda - Adda is an integral part of Bengali life as we can discuss and debate about just any topic, anytime, anywhere. So, Pujo means adda at your parar pandal and an evening adda at Maddox Square with friends, guitar, and food.
# Sindoor Khela - Well, it's the last ritual and to say farewell to Ma Durga until Aashche Bochor (Next Year) where women wear red & white saree and apply red vermilion to the goddess and to each other and wishing shubho bijoya for a happy year ahead.
Durga Pujo - The festival of the fall or Sharadotsav as we Bengalis say is one of the world's biggest street carnival. What makes Durga Pujo so special and Bengalis so crazy about the festival is because it's FREAKING AWESOME!!
The sheer excitement of Pujo aashche ( the wait for pujo), the last-minute rush for pujo shopping, asking your friends and cousins about "Kota Jama Holo". It's not just Ma Durga's homecoming but also an excuse for friends and family to get together and enjoy these 5 days.
Till last year, pujo meant whole night pandal hopping with friends and family, waiting in queues and squeezing through a human swam for hours to get a glimpse of that famous pandal, Durga idol, and lighting decor. And how can I forget to take SELFIE with Ma Durga at the backdrop while Baba giving continuous bokuni (upbraid) to move ahead? Pujo meant to pray and give anjali with ma, baba and asking baba for a biryani feast at shiraz or amenia and various other bhuribhoj. One has to be in the city of joy - Kolkata to feel it when the city looks like a newly wedded bride. The city turns into a big street carnival with people thronging from all walks of life despite their caste/creed/religion/nationality- this festival is SARBOJONIN meaning for all. The festival represents a breathtaking display of Pandals(Festive Tents) and Idols made with clay with their innovative themes and exotic artwork which is a spectacle to watch with not only eye-catching craft work but also with powerful social messages as it's a theme. Pandals are the center of attraction during pujo made with bamboo frames, clothes, and other materials.
For Bengalis, Ma Durga is the symbol of Shakti and epitomizes the triumph of good over evil. She is depicted as a warrior with ten hands carrying different weapons with hand gestures or mudra representing the teachings of life. Her arms carrying Chakra, Conch, Sword, Club, Lotus Flower, Bow and Arrow, Trishul, and Fourth Lower hand represents Dharma to perform our duties sincerely, to be happy in life, to eradicate the evil within us, to face all difficulties with courage, to forgive oneself and others, to not get intimidated by limitless power and control animalistic behavioral thought process like anger, greed, jealousy. Her mount - the ferocious and powerful Lion; she reminds us to control such feelings and use the power within us to protect the virtue.
The festival means lip-smacking food, illumination of extravagant lights and Bengali's favourite ADDA. For Bengalis, pujo also means-
# Pandal Hopping - Pujo means pandal hopping with friends and family some time for the entire night. Pujo means to walk, walk and walk and get either a muscle cramp next day or to get a blister from the new sandal.
# Dhaak and Dhunuchi Naach - Pujo means to wake up to the sound of dhaak(drum) and dance to its rhythm with dhunuchi or earthen pots filled with coconut fiber and incense. The aroma from dhunuchi is so mesmerizing and beat of dhaak so foot-tapping, you just can't sit idle but dance. I really can't think of another song but to sing " Dhaker thaale komor dole; Khushi te naache mon".
# Pet Pujo- We Bengalis love food and pujo means closing the home kitchen and enjoy bhog at pandals with khichuri, labra, payesh, chatni and mouth-watering street food like phuchka, rolls, biryani, fish fry, telebhaja and so on and on and on...
# Let it glow - Pujo means an extravagant display of creative installation of lights from Chandannagar. For me, since childhood sparkling lights always meant College Square.
# Pujor Adda - Adda is an integral part of Bengali life as we can discuss and debate about just any topic, anytime, anywhere. So, Pujo means adda at your parar pandal and an evening adda at Maddox Square with friends, guitar, and food.
# Sindoor Khela - Well, it's the last ritual and to say farewell to Ma Durga until Aashche Bochor (Next Year) where women wear red & white saree and apply red vermilion to the goddess and to each other and wishing shubho bijoya for a happy year ahead.
So no matter where you are in the world; enjoy this wonderful festival with family and friends. Eat, eat and become a bit fat and of course, enjoy the adda and have lots of fun.
