Ya devi sarvabhuteshu bhakti - rupena samsthita
Namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai namo namah.
This is the chant that most Bengali families wake up to on the day of Mahalaya. This year it was on 23rd of September. It is a chant to invoke the goddess to descend to earth. For years my family has been listening to Mahalaya on radio, and when we cannot find the signal we play it on CD. And then starts the wait for the start of Durga Pujo celebrations.
At the core, Durga Puja is the celebration of Good over Evil. The idol which is worshiped during the ceremony, depicts the triumph of Ma Durga over Mahisasur.
It is also said that this time of the year marks Ma Durga's yearly visit to her father's house, with her four children. And on Dashami she returns to Mount Kailash to her Husband Lord Shiva.
The preparation for Durga Pujo begins months in advance. The artisians start making the beautiful idols of Ma Durga and her Four Children: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik along with their vahans(rides), Lion, Owl, Swan, Mouse and Peacock. And Pujo organisers put in extraordinary hours to make the celebrations a success.
Durga Pujo is an integral part of Bengali Culture. It marks a time of togetherness for family and friends. The morning starts with fasting till the prayers are offered by afternoon. After that the feasting begins. And fun escalates when friends drop in. Believe me Durga Pujo is best celebrated in the company of family and old friends. For me the Pujo Adda(group gossip) and Pandal Hopping are integral to Durga Pujo. And last but not the least the food.
The Pujo Pandals are lined up with street food, traditional food even big restaurants put in stalls to woo customers. The big hit with people are generally the street food. Just writing this is making my mouth water.
The Phuchkas/Golgappas stalls are always busy, you literally have to push your way in.
And i must not forget the Fish Fry.
And the Chilly Chicken, Noodles, and the varieties. Ooh......i cannot wait for next year.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to my good friend AS Biswas for the "Durga idol in the making" photographs.
Thanks to my husband, for patiently bearing with me while i was taking the photographs and he was getting the weird stares.
And thanks to all you my friends, without you the Pujo festivities can never be complete, even if we meet for a little while, it is worth it.
The Pujo Pandals are lined up with street food, traditional food even big restaurants put in stalls to woo customers. The big hit with people are generally the street food. Just writing this is making my mouth water.
And i must not forget the Fish Fry.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Tikkas and the Kebabs ofcourse.
And the lovely Biryani.
And the lovely Mutton Ghugni( minced lamb with chickpeas).
~~~
The end of festivities is marked by immersion of the idol of Ma Durga on Dashami. We bid her good-bye and count our days to the time next year, when she will be here again to spread goodness and happiness.
Aaschey Bochor Aabar Hobey.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to my good friend AS Biswas for the "Durga idol in the making" photographs.
Thanks to my husband, for patiently bearing with me while i was taking the photographs and he was getting the weird stares.
And thanks to all you my friends, without you the Pujo festivities can never be complete, even if we meet for a little while, it is worth it.
