Durga Puja, the autumn festival dedicated to Goddess Durga has always been Kolkata’s identity for the rest of the world.

The association and the spirit with which people from various communities and faiths comes forward to celebrate the biggest festival of the world in terms of gathering and celebrations, showcases the true meaning of harmony.

This spirit makes India, a different nation altogether from rest of the world, which shelters and shares happiness and festivity with everyone.

In this fast influencing age of new media, the radio-recitation of Maa Durga’s advent on Mahalaya day in the identical voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra piercing through the early morning cool hues stillcaptures the mood of every Bengali which remains althrough the festival.

The flowing of Kashphool and the fragrance of the Shiuli flower also declares the beginning of Devi Paksha which also symbolizes the beginning of Maa Durga’s journey from Kailasha accompanied by her two son’s Ganesh, Kartik and two daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati. Thus starts the Navaratri Celebration all over the country.

Meanwhile the celebration that emerges with the beauty of idols and the creativity with which the pandals are made. Thanks to corporate support and stiff competition among puja organizers, the race for excellence and to be best amongst others, makes the attraction for meaningful.

As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the nation to celebrate Ganesh and Durga Puja in an eco-friendly way, expressing concern over the issue of rising pollution, while addressing the nation in the 23rd edition of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, Prime Minister Modi said, “Lot of people are writing about Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja vis-a-vis the environment, showing their concern over pollution. Why should we not go back to our tradition of using clay for making idols? It will help the environment as well.”

Many Puja Pandals in Kolkata are observing what Prime Minister has appealed keeping in mind the eco friendliness the pandals are made. Though the idols, which are exported outside, are mainly made of fibre and most traditional Durga Puja in Kolkata prefers clay idols.

The Mamata Banerjee government in the state too is planning to make Durga Puja an attraction to tourists and makes it appear as a grand carnival. The government is thus planning to not only showcase the different pujas, but also highlight the immersion process too. So for that the government is not only to showcase the pujas but also highlight the immersion processions, though, not all idols will be allowed to pass through Red Road, only the best 50 pujas selected by the government are likely to be showcased.

Now coming to Durga Puja, whether it is the stunning idols or the innovative themes with which the pandals are decorated, captivates the curious crowds of devotees in the City of Joy, which does not sleep for four days and the streets of the city are crowded with people in moods.

Love founds their expressions mainly amongst the youngsters, as it is the time to spend with your close and loved once. Frenzied pandal-hopping in new clothes, meeting friends and family and feeding yourself with traditional delicacies, makes the festival more colorful for all.

Man’s clad in traditional dhoti and kurta while women mostly with red bordered white and off white sarees are to be found around every Durga Puja pandals, arranging everything from flower to bhogand to play perfect host to guests who comes hopping one after another Durga Puja Pandals, which with creative themes and hard hitting message attracts one and all. The pandals with chants of “Jai Durga” and “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai” makes the festival of grace more graceful.

In Kolkata, each year there are around 3,000 community pujas and 5,000 family pujas are organized and the number is increasing every year. Each and every community Puja, organizers thatcome up with innovative themes, also makes the city, a different planet altogether but the tradition and heritage remains intact.

The Durga puja is usually a five-day event with Sasthi, and the subsequent four days – Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. Sasthi the sixth day of the lunar calendar also marks the beginning of the puja rituals.Kalparamvo (the beginning of the Pujas), Bodhan (the consecration of Ma Durga’s idol), Amantran (inviting the goddess) and Adhivas (sanctifying the stay of the goddess on the exact spot where the puja is being held) – were performed in community puja pandals and households where the deity is being worshipped with zeal.

During this period of 5 days every morning thus begun auspicious as we woke up to the sound of Shaakh: shankha along with the sound of dhaak: the large drum that men hang around their shoulders and play with two thin sticks to infuse the feverised rhythm into each and every listener.

The evening begins with the ‘arati’ and then after arati, the same fire is used to light the coals in the dhunachi pots. Durga puja is not complete without dhunachi dance. It’s a devotional folk dance with dhunachi pots in both the hands a devotee, who prays to the Goddess with the rhythm invoking the spirituality within.

Thus the days are passed with the invocation of Shakti within each one of us.If the essences were to be followed in spirit, the respect ofwoman, the world would have been different world all together. Mother Durga comes to the world with her whole family symbolizes the harmony of each soul, togetherness and the message, the world is one family.

Tags: Durga MaaDurga PujaNavratriNavratri in Bengal