Maa always said it was lokkhi pujo and not doshomi that marked the official end of Durga Pujo. On this day, here is an ode to our ‘chotobelar pujo’ …
Back when days were simple, some 25-30 years back, Durga Pujo in Calcutta used to be quite different. Pujo to us children would mean October, blue skies and rain-free days. Pujo meant ‘cap bonduk’ and ‘pandal theke bheshe asha bangla gaan’. Pujo meant luchi torkari for breakfast, machher jhol or pathar mangsho for lunch and thakur dekha post afternoons. These days, Durga Pujo feels like a rush - so many pandals to cover, so many awards to win, so many selfies to take. Pujo in our childhood was relaxed even though it encompassed all ‘Pujo experience’ - from ‘khawadawa’ to ‘hoichoi’, from ‘adda’ to ‘thakur dekha’, from ‘Anjali’ to ‘dhunuchi nach’, from Maddox to Ekdalia.
I distinctly remember Saptami mornings when my brother and I would accompany our grandfather “dadubhai”, clad in crisp white punjabi pyajama, to the local market and buy bags full of fresh vegetables and fish. On our way back, dadubhai would never forget to visit the local kali temple for a quick pronaam and then buy some sweets from our ‘parar mishtir dokan’. By the time we would return home, the air would have turned aromatic with delicious scent coming from the kitchen. Ma, kakima, amma, tulshi pishi, rita mashi would all be cooking together, chatting and giggling away. Sitting on the sofa, in a perfect ‘chhutir amej’, baba would read the daily newspaper, while kaku would take over the radio to enjoy his annual dose of ‘pujor gaan’. A family group breakfast at the large dining table with ‘hing’er kochuri’, ‘alur torkari’, ‘bonde’ (sometimes ‘jilipi’) would set the perfect mood for the pujo days.
Pujo to us was maa screaming “taratari snan kore ne, Anjali dite jete hobe to” and “powder mekhechis to?”. Pujo meant wearing ‘notun jama’ and ‘notun juto’ with ext
From authentic traditional to minimal and modern styles, idols and pandals created during Durga Pujo in Kolkata is an epitome of celebration of art. It undoubtedly showcases the best bouquet of art installations across town. Here’s presenting a slideshow of some phenomenal creations of this year.
#kolkata
Sondhi Pujo, takes place at the juncture of Ashtami (the eighth day) and Nabami (the ninth day) during Durga Pujo.
The rituals of Sondhi Pujo are characterized by a heightened sense of anticipation and reverence. The priest invokes the goddess with fervent prayers, and devotees light 108 lamps, offer 108 lotus flowers, and perform ‘aarti’ (a ritual of waving a lit lamp) to honour the goddess.
The significance of Sondhi Pujo goes beyond mere ritual. It symbolizes the eternal battle between good and evil, light and darkness.
This pivotal moment reminds us that no matter how intense the challenges- good, will gradually prevail.
In conclusion, Sondhi Pujo is a moment of profound significance during Durga Pujo. It encapsulates the essence of the festival, celebrating the victory of good over evil, while fostering a sense of community and tradition.
#durgapujo
Have you tuned in? 📻🎵🎼🎶
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#mahalaya #durgapujo #radio #durga #pujo #durgapuja #mahalaya2023 #childhood #nostalgia #goosebumps #devipakkho #devipaksha #pujoshuru #dawn #music #saregama #akashvaani #birendrakrishnabhadra
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Music courtesy : all songs used in this reel are part of Mahisasuramardini radio programme that has been broadcasting since 1931 on All India Radio (AIR) in Indian state West Bengal. It is a one-and-a-half-hour audio montage of Chaṇḍipāaṭh (chanting from Chaṇḍi) recitation from the scriptural verses of Śrī Śrī Chaṇḍi or Durga Saptashati, Bengali devotional songs, classical music and a dash of acoustic melodrama. This programme has become synonymous with Mahalaya which is celebrated to usher the Devipaksha lunar fortnight and the Durga Puja. Presently the recordings are available as audio cassettes and Compact Disks from HMV-RPG which has obtained the rights from All India Radio.
We don’t claim or own the rights of the music. We are using it purely for entertainment purposes with no commercial interests.
History of ShobhaBajar Rajbari Durga Puja! 🌸🌺🌼🌿
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Thank you for lending your beautiful voice! ♥️
Ranit Dutta Ray
Minutes away from the famous palaces of SobhaBajar, historic temples of BaagBajar and the crowded markets of Hatibagan, lies the quaint and charming Kumortuli (the potters’ abode). After the significant victory in the Battle of Plassey (1757), when the British East India Company began building settlements in Kolkata, people of different occupations gathered and created new neighbourhoods, which were named after their professions.
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BGM Courtesy:
Song - Raag Durga By Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia
Album - Written On The Wind
License - The Orchard Music (on behalf of Audiorec Classics); BMG Rights Management (US), LLC, LatinAutorPerf, and 3 Music Rights Societies
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Voiceover Courtesy: @bandhuli_das98
Images and Videos Courtesy: @bandhuli_das98 @shutterbug_arijitd @saikat_basu
Special thanks to : @__ranitdray__
Kumartuli Para, located in the northern part of Kolkata, India, holds immense significance during Durga Pujo, one of the most celebrated and revered festivals in West Bengal and among Bengali communities worldwide. Kumartuli is renowned for its skilled artisans, known as “kumars,” who craft the intricate clay idols of Goddess Durga and her family. These artisans have honed their craft over generations, creating awe-inspiring sculptures that are central to the celebration of Durga Puja.
#kolkatadurgapuja #durgapuja #durgapujakolkata #durgapujavibes #pujoasche #pujodiaries #kolkata #kolkataphotographer #kolkatabloggers #sokolkata #kolkata_lanes #calcuttaoutdoors #durgapujaphotography
Just a short reel with the iconic red buses of London.
What a beauty! 😍
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#london #ldn #itssolondon #visitlondon #travellondon #londonbus #redbus #londonlife #londoncity #londongram #lovelondon #red #cityscape #london🇬🇧 #uklondon #travelblogger
They say to find happiness in the smallest moments, appreciate the little things in life, like the wind blowing, the sun shining, the birds chirping. I took this extremely short video few weeks back to capture the dance of the sunrays on the fluttering waves. Today, when I chanced upon this in my Photo gallery - it made me instantly happy. Like I was tranported to the park, like I could feel the cool breeze all around me. Made me think, do we really recognize the swiftness with which the moments pass? It was only the other day when I was actually enjoying this, physically. And now, it’s just a memory.
Remembering the lines by Gulzar Saahab, one of the greatest Shayars (poet) of our time….
𝘈𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘪.
𝘏𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘩 𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘦, 𝘡𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘪 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘥𝘰,
𝘗𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘰 𝘺𝘦𝘩 𝘫𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘪….