By Susmita Ghosh
Pic Courtesy: Ayan Das
Nothing can be compared with the splendour and madness of Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, the city of Joy during autumn. Huge lot of travellers come to the city only to experience this Bengali festival. Bongs living in any pocket of the world try to return home during these 5-days festivities pouring in the airports and railway stations.
The crowd, the themed pandals, the food, the brilliant craftsmanship, the cheerful craziness, the appealing spirit of locals and the cultural blend of traditional and modern is simply hard to describe!
With their unique themes, the ‘pandals’ or the structural framework, in Kolkata become an attraction every year for crowds from across the country and this year too is no different. Pandal hopping is the heart and soul of this festivity! Filled with food, fun and frolic, families, friends, couples and tourists assemble together to walk a lot and face huge crowd whole day and night from one theme pandal to another with a determined spirit.
The Tourism Department has made various efforts to include different flavours of Durga Pujas to cater to all kinds of tourists. The Metro Railway, the suburban rail services operated by Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway and private tour operators are not left out too.
The old aristocratic family homes belonged to wealthy merchants, known as ‘Bonedi Bari’ in Bengali, celebrated Durga Puja for centuries like 150 to 400 years. Kolkata has such around 200 families who have preserved the traditional style of worshiping Goddess Durga till date. Unlike well-financed local pujas, they are more a domestic affair, held in the courtyard of their palatial buildings decorated with ancient brass chandeliers.
To bring smiles on senior citizens’ faces by cherishing their old memories with new experiences, Realtech family, an organisation comes up with fresh ideas every year. In association with Kolkata Police Pronam, Realtech Nirman organizes, ‘Pujo Parikrama,’ to make an effort, holding their hands and accompanying them to get a glance of the Goddess as they once did for their own children.
The ‘Realtech Nirman Pujo Parikrama’ has engaged nearly 9000 senior citizens since 9 years. All necessities are taken care of including their medical needs ensuring their safety, guiding them, walking hand in hand in the crowd during the event. The seniors are handed caps and water bottles to beat the heat as they step out of the AC Volvo buses.
Since 2016, the state government is organising a massive farewell carnival procession showcased with various art and dance forms at Red Road, Kolkata before the immersion of the goddess Durga. It gives an opportunity to witness the award-winning idols of best pujas in the city at one place.
The essence of Puja is converging of all the passions, emotion, culture, the love of life, the warmth of being together, the joy of celebration, the pride in artistic expression of Bengal.
Start planning to travel to Kolkata next Puja if not visited this year!
Well written piece. Very true it is !
During this festivity, Maa Durga descends in Kolkata with her children in full finery.
If anyone wants to visit the city, this is THE TIME …..