Durga Puja, the festival of harmony!!

WHY YOU MUST VISIT KOLKATA DURING DURGA POOJA, ATLEAST ONCE IN A LIFETIME ?

       

 FIRSTLY, we must know about the reason and belief of INDIA behind this grand celebration of DURGA PUJA. As per Hindu scriptures, the festival marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting asura, Mahishasura. Thus, the festival epitome the victory of good over evil, though it is also in part a harvest festival celebrating the goddess as the motherly power behind all of life and creation.

NAVRATRI, (Sanskrit: "nine nights") in full SHARAD NAVRATRI held in the honor of the divine feminine. It occurs over 9 days during the month of Ashvin according to the Hindu calendar. It often ends with the Dussehra also known as VIJAYADASHMI in almost every part of India.

    FOOD, FUN AND FROLIC- IT'S A CARNIVAL IN KOLKATA DURING DURGA PUJA. VISIT THE CITY TO SEE FOR YOURSELF!

LET'S talk about Kolkata and it's Durga Puja. Nothing can compare to Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata. The city does not sleep and it's people, decked up in finery, enjoy the revelry to the hilt. Its five days celebration with themed pandals and traditional Pujos, food, friendship and creativity. This part of the country seems illuminated from the sky as the city is bathed in lights. ASK any bengali what is the closest thing he holds to his heart, the answer would simply be good food and Kolkata Durga puja. This festival is not just about worshiping THE GODDESS all that related stuff...it has become more like a phenomenon which runs through seven straight days in the veins of Bengalis.

              HERE are some reasons why you should not miss this grand spectacle in Kolkata:

👉 KOLKATA DURGA PUJA PANDAL HOPPING... Lets get the most cellular thing related to pujas and also the most obvious entry on this list out of the way first - pandal hopping. There are thousands of Durga Puja pandal but some of them stand out more than others, as a result of their captivating decorations. The pandals in North Kolkata tend to be more traditional, whereas the ones in South Kolkata are contemporary and showy. Admittedly, pandals do get immensely crowded but unless you go on a pandal hopping binge, you'll not get the true feel of Puja. NO OTHER PLACE OR NO OTHER FESTIVAL ON MOTHER EARTH IS CELEBRATED IN SUCH A HUGE SCALE.

👉 WONDERFUL LIGHTING DECORATES KOLKATA LIKE A BRIDGE... The whole city turns bright and beautiful especially at night during this festival. An illusionary magic is created using strings of bulbs, which was known as 'Chandannagorer lighting' in the earlier days. An indegenous technology is used by electricians for such exceptional artwork. Mark my words, you are going to mesmerized under the lights and peace as if in heaven.

👉 TRADITIONAL BONEDI BARI PUJA... A tarditional Zamindari style puja is organised by the Bonedi Families (once the landowners of Kolkata) at their elite mansions. it is considered one of the best traditional pujas, covering Shovabajar Rajbari, Rani Rashmoni Bari, Chandra Bari, etc. Various state tourism buses are also available for tourists and locals to witness these enchanting affair in classic ways. DURING THE HAY DAYS OF THE PUJA THE HOUSES SAW CULTURAL FUNCTIONS LIKE JATRA AND KABIGAAN  WHERE ARTISTS CAME FROM ALL ACROSS BENGAL. If you happen to visit the house during the festive time the sound of chants and Durga jaap will transport you to a different world.

👉 THE 'KOLA BOU'... A special ritual is performed to infuse the energy of Goddess into the idols, installed on podiums across the city. This is done through a small banana plant called Kola Bou (banana bride). Accompanied by drummers and the chanting of mantras by the Hindu priest, the Kola Bou is bathed and purified in the river. It is then dressed up in a saree with a red border and carried in a procession, back to the idol where it is placed alongside Lord Ganesha. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT DONE WITH HUGE FANFARE, IT IS STILL KOLKATA DURGA PUJA RELATED EXPERIENCE WORTH WITNESSING ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

👉 THE RITUAL IMMERSION...

                                 Source- Shree studio collection, Kolkata

Just the Goddess Durga makes her presence felt while coming into our lives over and over again, she also makes the hearts a tad bit sombre when the times comes to bid her adieu. But bidding her farewell is done in an equally big and explosive fashion- with huge processions and people dancing to the traditional drum beats.

I WISH TO FINISH MY FIRST BLOG JUST BY SAYING THAT IT'S LOT LOT MORE THAN WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN HERE AND YOU MUST HAVE TO VISIT IT ONCE IF YOU ARE A PERSON HAVING INTEREST IN KNOWING THE DIVERSITIES OF FAITH BEHIND THE DIFFERENT FESTIVALS OF THIS UNIFIED LOVING INDIA...