DURGA POOJA
One of the grandest festivals of the country, Durga Puja is being celebrated across the country. Predominantly celebrated in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, and Bihar, it happens to be one of the biggest festivals for Bengalis. The festival celebrates Goddess Durga’s triumph over Asura. After defeating the demon in the cosmic world, it is believed that the Goddess visits Earth with her family.
As an authentic bengali, I would like to share my own experiences. Durga pooja is one of the biggest festival celebrated in Kolkata. It is mainly celebrated for 5 days - Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dasami. But the festive mood around Durga Puja in Kolkata starts before Shashti, mainly from Mahalaya. Durga Puja pandals are opened to the public from the day of Mahalaya. The main attractions of Durga Puja in Kolkata are the decorations, sculptures, pandals, lights and illuminations, and carnival. Since we were unable to travel to Kolkata every year during this festival, we visited a number of locations in Mumbai where Durga Pooja was observed.Evn in Mumbai beautiful pandals are set up, and installed the well-crafted idols while cultural performances and various rituals take places in every corner of the country. During this Bengali festival, it is a tradition to buy new clothes and gifts for the near and dear ones. Food is a pertinent feature of Durga Pujo without which, the essence of the festival is incomplete. Many celebraties organise their own pandals. Due to Covid-19 pandemic the festival carnival was not organised. However this year ever pandal was lit. It was first time for many celebraties. The carnival has various stuffs like food court which is very important. All bengali foods only. There were many games and every organisation had their own very stage for performing artists. Then on the last day which is Ashtami each and every bengali does DHUNUCHI DANCE, it is nothing but men and women wearing their traditional kurtas and sarees take up an earthen pot carrying burning coconut scrapes that are being held in their hands or even in their mouths as they dance away with the sound of dhaak. The best part of this pooja that I like is to get ready in traditional clothes and to get to special bengali foods. That's it.
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