Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
`Joi Durga'
|
The Bengalis in the city have been celebrating Durga Puja since 1971. This year's celebrations are round the corner.
|
Durga Puja evokes nostalgia among Bengalis in the city. They long for Kolkata, when the fragrance of Kaash phool and Shiuli (flowers) wafts through the cool breeze in autumn. The sounds of the dhak and the conch add to the festive spirit.
The Bengalis in the city have been celebrating Durga Puja since 1971. The venue for this year's celebrations is the Hassan Marikkar Hall.
Shantanu Das Gupta, president of the Bengali Association, says, "There were just 15-20 families earlier. Initially, we couldn't afford to get the idols made by artists; we would buy clay and one of our members used to make them. Now that the Association has around a 100 members, we have an artist who comes down from Kolkata to make the idols."
The four-day celebration begins on Mahasaptami and winds up with the bhishorjon (immersion) of the deity, in the Veli lake on Mahadasami day.
B. Hridayakumari will inaugurate the cultural programme. Interschool quiz and essay competitions and fancy dress competition for children will be held. Children will stage two dance dramas; `Arun Barun Kiron Mala' is based on a popular fairy tale.
The agomoni songs heralding the puja are presented under the title Arghya (offering). There's a musical interpretation of Rabindranath Tagore's poem, `Nirjhorer Shopno Bhongo', titled `The Awakening'. Shyamoli Ghosh will play the sitar as the poem, which has myriad moods, is recited. Apart from this, two Bengali plays will be staged. This is one occasion, when budding poets and singers among the Bengali community in the city get an opportunity to display their skills.
Every year, five poems are chosen and recited by the members in their own distinctive style.
"The TV keeps us linked to Kolkata. Though we celebrate Durga Puja, it is not just Bengalis who participate. We invite our Malayali friends too. The kids bunk classes and those who are employed take leave. It's more like a big joint family coming together. We look forward to the celebrations because we get to meet all our Bengali friends. Now we'd rather celebrate puja here than go back to Kolkata, but the Durga Puja there is too good to be missed," they say.
Pujas will be conducted early in the morning and in the evenings. The food will comprise Bengali delicacies and the usual fare of mishtis (sweets).
SMITHA SADANANDAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
