Durga Puja: Remembering Our Humble Beginnings

It's funny when I think of it, I am a jungle girl. I have always been attracted to nature, trees, the forest, wilderness and Animals! However I was born in the greatest city on earth, brought up in a fairly large Indian city, and then did high school in one of the most populated cities in the World - Kolkata, India! Maybe that's why I always wanted to live on a farm? Or maybe because my ancestors were farmers... It's strange why the open spaces, quiet and solitude have always called me, however I settled into city life just fine too, although it truly was NOT my element.

Over the years I have wondered about BELONGING, WHAT AM I, WHO AM I, and other such thoughts on existentialism. I remember wondering when I was very little 4 or 5... that I could have been anyone, but why was I me? Why wasn't I she, or she or he? That thought process blew my mind, and then I think I got scolded for day dreaming. I did that a lot, I would get lost in my thoughts on thoughts, while missing out on the long division method. Sometimes I regret not paying attention. As children we live, and then some time in the teenage years we're taught to "define our individuality" so then the material world comes into play. Before which, all I wanted was to be left alone with my thoughts and imagination. I liked taking my sis and I into this world where we each had flying horse friends, and we were shapeshifters... yeah! :-P Then by 10th grade we are worried about belonging... I just have to point out, growing up in Southern India, I wasn't very keen on my Bengali heritage, cause that itself made me stand apart. Try explaining Durga Puja to other 2nd graders who are other Indian cultures. Being the only Bong in class at that time, sucked. Soon Becky joined me though!

After being forced to go to Durga Puja, tolerate rituals which I didn't understand, spending 5 days in a different city with overly doting relatives, you become ready to adopt any culture other than the one you are born into. It took many years for me to finally be comfortable, accepting, and fond of my Bengali heritage and all the stereotypes that come with it. I am a Bengali American! I am Me! And I belong to me and the world. Yeah but that Bengali bit!

There we go back to the history of my ancestors, it maybe totally inconsequential to the larger picture of life the universe and everything, however it might have some significance? Who knows! Anyway, my family is from a village in West Bengal, and it is such a "village" in every sense... no electricity, middle of no where, no roads, they still have wells and a hand pump for water, and yes people are poor farmers. It's so beautiful there though, from my memories of this place. Running through the rice fields barefoot, felt utterly natural, even when my foot sank into a warm pile of cow dung... mmm! So natural! (I'm not being sarcastic). It felt like home, although that was my first time there. From big city to tiny village, it didn't sink in till recently. The complete opposites of where I am from, finding the complete mish-mash of "things" that I am and coming to terms with it and finally accepting it all. It's peaceful, or at least humorous!

My father just sent a picture of the village's Durga Protima this year, and she is simple but lovely, and I am glad for my family, and our humble origins, still humbling now. <3

Breathe

Isn't she beautiful? Left to right- Gonesh, (bengali pronunciation ok!), Lokhi, Durga, Shoroshoti, Kathik, and Mahishashur somewhere in there, dying! 

Durga ... It's that time of the year again!

How does one explain the excitement of something such as the biggest Bengali festival of the year? How does one explain Durga Pujo to non-Bengalis? Non- Indians?

"A man in Delhi once asked me "What is so special about Durga Puja In Kolkata? It's just as big as Diwali is here in the North".
I simply smiled and replied 'You have no idea'.
Waiting for my late evening flight to Mumbai at the airport, and I thought that there probably isn't any festival in any city in the world that can match Kolkata's Puja in intensity. You can take the craze of Diwali in Delhi, Christmas in London, Summer Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Valentine's day in Paris and then add it to the month long madness of Olympic Games or the World Cup and cram all that into a span of 5 days and you still wouldn't know what you are missing if you haven't been in Kolkata during Durga Puja"

- Vir Sanghvi, Hindustan Times

Yeah, what IS Durga Pujo? More importantly why is it so important to ME!

For about 3-4 years when we lived in Madras, now known as Chennai, we went to the Besant Nagar Durga Pujo. It was conveniently on the same street as our house, just a short walk. Over a few years we got to know the Bengali's in the SMCA Bengali group. I had some very close friends, and even more family friends. We enjoyed together the 5 days of intense bonding and celebration. We were family now, relishing our Bengali heritage through dance, performances of plays, music, worship, poribeshon (service), and ofcourse the obligatory adda (gossip), which is the epitome of Bengali-ness. I miss all that, my friends, the food, the service, the worship, family, the drama...

I found an article that explains it so well, go figure it's wiki!

Durga puja mood starts off with the Mahishasuramardini– a two-hour radio programme that has been popular with the community since the 1950s. While earlier it used to be conducted live, later a recorded version began to be broadcast. Bengalis traditionally wake up at 4 in the morning on Mahalaya day to listen to the enchanting voice of the late Birendra Krishna Bhadra and the late Pankaj Kumar Mullick on All India Radio as they recite hymns from the scriptures from the Devi Mahatmyam. During the week of Durga Puja, in the entire state of West Bengal as well as in large enclaves of Bengalis everywhere, life comes to a complete standstill. In playgrounds, traffic circles, ponds—wherever space may be available—elaborate makeshift structures called pandals are set up, many with nearly a year's worth of planning behind them. The word pandal means a temporary structure, made of bamboo and cloth, which is used as a temporary temple for the purpose of the puja. While some of the pandals are simple structures, others are often elaborate works of art with themes that rely heavily on history, current affairs and sometimes pure imagination. ---->(Yes my parents and I still wake up early and listen to this all day! But we can't celebrate like we once used to not in USA... although I celebrate it in my heart).

Somewhere inside these complex edifices is a stage on which Durga reigns, standing on her lion mount, wielding ten weapons in her ten hands. This is the religious center of the festivities, and the crowds gather to offer flower worship or pushpanjali on the mornings, of the sixth to ninth days of the waxing moon fortnight known as Devi Paksha. Devi = goddess; Paksha = period; Devi Paksha meaning the period of the goddess). Ritual drummers dhakis, carrying large leather-strung dhak –– show off their skills during ritual dance worships called aarati. On the tenth day, Durga the mother returns to her husband, Shiva, ritualised through her immersion into the waters also known as Bhaashan and Niranjan. --->(Or Bishorjon).

At the end of six days, the idol is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants of 'Bolo Durga mai-ki jai' (glory be to Mother Durga') and 'aashchhe bochhor abar hobe' ('it will happen again next year') and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home with her husband in the Himalayas. After this, in a tradition called Vijaya Dashami, families visit each other and sweetmeats are offered to visitors (Dashami is literally "tenth day" and Vijay is "victory").

Durga Puja commemorates the annual visit of the Goddess with Her children to Her parents' home, leaving finally on the Dashami to be re-united with Shiva. This leaving ceremony is symbolised by the immersion of the idols on Dashami.
Durga Puja is also a festivity of Good (Ma Durga) winning over the evil (Mahishasur the demon). It is a worship of power of Good which always wins over the bad.

:-)

More at -Wikipedia Article- Durga Puja , although NOTHING can capture the awesomeness of Durga Puja! We have little Durga Puja's everywhere. I have fond memories of Durga pujo, in Kolkata (Calcutta), and Chennai and other places.

Breathe!

Durga Devi Mahashakti - A Poem

Our Reflection in Mahashakti “Dasavuja”

All mankind

is born, aspiring for perfection

and each shall attain it

will he but follow

his nature’s duty,

listen mindfully, like ‘manifest’ glory.

Now that he holds it

he knows this treasure

above all others.-

Faith so certain

shall never be shaken.

Heaviest sorrow-

vanity, violence-

Pride, lust, anger so bemused-

all possessions though not tainted.

The sense is ego, that matters-

endowed ‘shakti’, let man acquire,

embrace, “Mahashakti” so epitomized.

Endearing and blissfully

ESPIRIT DE CORPS- SO UNIVERSAL,

wonders visibly.

Seer provider omnipotent

our Ma Durga.

Being so obsequious

each of us inspired-

ordained by the nature.

Born out of your showering

noble gifts “Mahagunas” as every.

Empowered to unearth

materials transformed, tranquilled

in our mind & spirit, forever,

surely help us reinvent, bare.

“Mahatman” unfolds austere-

forbearing strength and wisdom

infusing firm faith

to prevailing the truth in us!

Thus our enamoring deity

so ordained by the nature-

mighty and bold

unflinching and fearless

becoming the subtlety of skill

making us a resolute mentor

to work for all humanity

the endeavor, honour

inner strength of mighty deity

help us win the battle of life.

To work for all men-

with humility- “As more we learn,

the little we know”

deserving benediction

-such is the duty of ours

ordained for the serves of

“Mahashakti Durga Devi.

By

Dino Nath Ghosal

This is a poem my grandfather Mr. Dino Nath Ghosal wrote but a few days ago. I hope you enjoyed it.