A Guide to the Celebration of Durga Puja in Bengal

 

“Pujor Bansi Bajje Dure,
Maa Aschen Bochor Ghure”

(A Happy and Welcoming Sound of Flute is being heard from far as it is the time for Maa Durga [Devi Durga] to visit us after a year round)  - Anonymous (collected)

These above lines are the perfect words to describe the feelings of all the people of West Bengal as it is time for the arrival of Devi Durga after a year-long wait. The sound of Flute in the above lines actually depicts the feeling at the heart of every Bengalis when they realize that the time of their mother-goddess’s “Devi Durga” arrival has come. With her arrival there will be celebration, fun and togetherness among friends and family. In other words there will be a great homecoming for not only Devi Durga but also of the families, relatives and friends who (stay away from each other in different locations, both within the country and outside) gather to greet each other and spend time with each other. This celebration, Durga Puja is thus, a six days festival of gaiety and grandeur that takes place in every part of West Bengal and is a worth watching experience for any individual visiting India.

Before knowing more about what to experience in this celebration let’s know something about how this puja came into being?

The History

This religious event of Durga puja is one of the biggest celebration of the Hundu’s that happens in the month of Ashvin (Ashwin) – September - October. This Puja is celebrated to commemorate the goddess Durga’s victory over her battle against the asura named Mahishasura. According to the Hindu mythology, a demon was set out in pursue of war against the gods & Goddess Durga ultimately slay him & protect the earth. On the day of Maha Saptami She began her battle against the demon and finally slayed him on the day of Vijay Dashami. The very first Durga Puja was said to have started by the royal family of Malda, Dinajpur around 16th-century.

Devi Durga – The Depiction

Since the festival is all about celebrating the victory of the goddess over the demon named Mahishasura, the goddess is often viewed as “the destroyer of evil’. She is also depicted as the Protector of the Righteous’ to Hindu devotees. According to Swami Sivananda, a noted Hindu spiritual leader “Devi Durga is synonymous with Shakti or the Divine Power that manifests, sustains and transforms the universe as the one unifying Force of Existence…..”

                            

The Goddess and the Celebration

The grandest annual festival of Hindus, Durga Puja, is a multiple-day celebration. Actually the festival celebration commences from the day of the Mahalaya, which indicates the advent of the goddess. The Merriments and the worship then begin from Sasthi, the sixth day and continue till Dashami (the 10^th day). The main celebration and amusement however is carried out from the days of Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami & Vijay Dashami with much splendor across the state of West Bengal. On the day of Dashami the idol of goddess is immersed in water amid loud chants and drumbeats.

The goddess comes to visit earth from her heavenly abode with her two sons (Lord Ganesha and Karthik) and daughters (Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati). There is also another member; kola bou or banana wife, who is known to be the wife of Lord Ganesha. Though named Riddhi-Siddhi, she is depicted as a banana stem, wrapped in clothes, and thus the name “kola bou or banana wife”

The image of the idol comes as “astride a lion, attacking the demon king Mahishasura with 10 arms holding various deadly weapons, and with one son one daughter on the right and one son one daughter on the left. You will find Lord Shiva at the rear.

What to See?

Making of the Idol – Before watching the embellished idols there is nothing more interesting to watch how these idols are made and the best place to see these idols being made in Kolkata is “Kumartuli”. Very popular destination among the shutterbugs, Kumartuli can be a good pre-puja tour. While strolling through the narrow streets of Kumartuli, you will get to see lots of half made idols, clay & those hundreds of artists, making those idols.

Embellished Idols in Pandal – The main attraction of this festival, apart from the puja ceremony is the showcase of theme based Pandals (elaborately decorated bamboo structures and galleries) and idols of Devi Durga, in different parts of the state. It is assumed that there are more than 4 thousand Durga pandals are set up in different parts of Bengal. These Puja presentations are known as “Baroyari Puja” which has a bit commercial touch to it. The concept is that of a collaborative puja organized by different committees. The word “Baroyari” has a meaning; “Baro” means “twelve” and “Yari” means “friends”. The very first Baroyari puja was theorized in Hooghly around in the year 1790.

Visiting “Bonedi” Pujas – Just like “Baroyari” there is another approach of Durga Puja, called “Bonedi” Puja or Family organized pujas. These are simple and not theme based but no less in vigor, grandeur, enthusiasm, fun and enjoyment. It has a different feel and flavor of celebration and one cannot understand until they become a part of it or see it. These are the pujas organized by the aristocratic families of Bengal that carries the actual essence of Durga Puja.

The Immersion Procession – The last day that is “Dashami” the picture is no less great but in a different way. On this last day, it is said that Devi Durga goes back to her husband, Lord Shiva’s abode and this journey of the goddess is rejoiced in a special way by the married women. They offer red color vermillion powder to Devi Durga & her children & also coat themselves with it; this exhibits the significance of marriage, fertility & bearing of children. After this the idols are then immersion in huge processions to local rivers. Again, this is a spectacle in itself.

The Surrounding – All parts of West Bengal, especially the capital city of Kolkata gets drenched in lights. The streets, the houses and even the trees get lit up with lights; glowing beautifully, they add glitters and life to the city. In some places open fairs are held. This celebration is also a kind of theatrical event. You will see many drama, dance, and cultural performances, widely held in many of the Pandals. Bengalis love food and this is evident from numerous street food joints that blossom in the city streets during this time, serving people with mouthwatering dishes.

 

The Carnival – The recent addition to this extravaganza is the introduction of “the Durga Puja Carnival”. Introduced by the West Bengal Government, in the year 2016, the Durga Puja Carnival is an event where award-winning community pujas parades down and showcase their idols of Goddess Durga of the year’s Durga Puja Festivals, in a flamboyant show of fun and splendor. The event also present sights of Bengal's rich & prosperous art & sculptures and cultural traditions. According to news sources this event has got the attention of the UNESCO, who was planning to take part in the same in 2020. They even had thoughts of listing the event in its ‘List of Intangible Heritage’ 2020. However due to the outbreak of Covid – 19 pandemic there arises an uncertainty of the event

                        

Durga Puja 2020

One of the largest public celebrations in the world, a unique of its kind, Durga Puja in Bengal is all about celebrating the victory of Good over the evil amidst fun and joviality. In the year 2020 this celebration is about to fall in the month of October from 22^nd to 26^th.This year, with COVID-19 pandemic causing its devastation across the globe, without yet any calculable termination, many celebrations saw cancellations deferrals and postponements; though Durga Puja in Bengal might get a chance but the organizers will have to curb their celebratory arrangements to a great extent and greet the Goddess Durga in the simplest way possible; probably without the participation of visitors from different parts of India and abroad.

                 

We hope that by next year we could win over the disease and get back the glamour, dazzle and colorful avatar that describe the celebration of Durga or Durgautsav in Bengal. Be there then and witness one of the beautiful religious Ceremonies in India.

Stay Safe, Stay Protected!

Picture Credit: Google Image Search

Facebook: Your New Online Shopping Destination For "Durga Puja 2020"

It’s again that time of the year when the people of Kolkata gets ready to indulge in the biggest shopping spree; Why? Well it’s time for the arrival of Devi Durga and the Extravaganza of the arrival. This is the time the people of Kolkata wait eagerly for, through the year and when it approaches close we start preparing for our most cherished activity….Shopping! 

In earlier times (includes my childhood days)shopping during puja only meant traversing through the busy and packed streets of shopping paradises like Gariahat, Hatibagan, New Market and others. Gradually the craze of these shopping destinations got divided between different online shopping platforms like Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart and the big shopping malls and the crowd got divided with options to shop from. Well I too became the part of this crowd and shifted my shopping preference more towards online. 

So what I tried to bring in here is that online shopping has become a regular activity for us now, most of us today prefer buying from online shopping sites than going to the traditional retail shop as this gives us more flexible time for shopping and it perfectly goes with our busy work schedules. Online shopping gives us the comfort of shopping from home and we can easily avoid crowds. It also gives us plethora of choices in whatever product we wish to buy and even offers discounts. Easy payment process, reasonable prices, doorstep delivery and even return facilities are some added values which are not there with the traditional retail shops. So a big chunk of Kolkata crowed has long back shifted to online shops like Myntra, Amazon, and Flipkart to buy things throughout the year. 

Wait, I know whatever you read till now is already a known fact and this definitely not what I intend to share with you in this article. Today I am going to tell you about another wonderful online shopping destination to add to your list of already known online shopping destinations and the name is FACEBOOK. 

Yes you read it right, it is Facebook. Over many years Facebook has emerged to be way more than just social networking sites and shopping is one such area that can be associated with Facebook. May be many of you already found out why I am saying this but those who do not know yet, I would like to share this information with them. 

Until during this time, last year, that is 2019 I, like many of you did not know that Facebook can be a lovely online shopping destination! There’s a group for virtually anything & everything in Facebook. With different “Buying and Selling Groups”, from different parts of India (even outside India) Facebook gives you amazing shopping experience. Small scale, local retail sellers are registered member of these groups who brings to you almost anything you wish to buy starting from wonderful apparels (mostly manufactured locally) to cosmetics to home furnishing to small knickknacks and even handmade and imitation Jewelries. You ask for it and they have it. To do shopping from Facebook it is best to be part of these different “Buying and Selling Groups” as buying member and whenever a seller is up for selling any product you get the notification. With the help of “Facebook Live” feature you also get to be part of any seller member’s product display and trust me you will feel like as if you are surfing products from a retail shop. The products you get to see is almost live and not picture. Also the varieties (they have such lovely varieties, styles which you might not get elsewhere and most importantly you get different specialties of different parts of our nation , mostly in case of apparels, say Bandhni, Tant, Gujrati work apparels and also on different fabric material, etc) and the style ( in apparels you can expect kaftan tops, high low tops, Jamindari kurti, wrapper skirt, Appliqué sarees, Palazzos of different work and fabric)and the quality of products you get from these sellers are just great (product reviews are easily available from the real buyers)and are offered to you in reasonable prices. The best part is if you want you can directly interact with a buyer before going for your turn to get feedback about product and services of the sellers here…..Arrey FACEBOOK is after all a social Networking site, right? So you can be sure of getting genuine feedback. 

These Facebook sellers also provide easy payment option, discounts, delivery at doorstep and some can even get your apparel customized according to your choice. Men and Kids dress items and other products are also there. Do not think that I am wring this as a project to get paid; I am sharing this because I myself have bought many things on Facebook and I am so satisfied and impressed with the experience that I first go for these Facebook groups to buy my dresses then look elsewhere. Moreover many of these “Buying and Selling Groups” in Facebook even arranges online exhibitions from time to time to give you tempting options to shop and experience is great too (saying with my personal experience). 

To start with I am providing you links of few such wonderful “Buying and Selling Groups” name from Facebook, where I am a member too. 

1. Sona Jhurir Hut – Link: 
2. Fashion Swap: Feel Trendy, Feel Authentic – Link: 
3. Fashion Beauty Only Female - Link:
4. Fashion House - Link 

Please note one important point, these groups are female based only, which means only females, be it a buyer or a seller, and can be the member of these groups. Also I am sharing the name and page of three of my favorite seller member of these groups for your reference: 

1. Sadipa Shilpo Kutir: Link- 
2. Shivanya Creations: Link 
3. En Vogue (Debolina’s Creation): Link 

There are many other such “Buying and Selling Groups” in Facebook apart from the ones I mentioned and if you are thinking how to find and be a part of them then here is a short and simple guide for you: Fist, simply log into your Facebook account and then go to “find Groups” on the left-hand side of your “Home page” where there is the “Explore section”. The moment you click on the “Groups tab”, Facebook will automatically lead you to the “Discover Groups landing page”. Here you can use the “search icon” to find such groups by using keywords like “ Shopping group”, “ Fashion”, “ Beauty”, ”Beauty products”, “Fashion Products”, Beauty with Fashion” etc. and you will be given suggestion of such shopping pages to join. Click on the options to learn more about the group and if you find it interesting submit your request to join the group. Once the admin approves you are all set to go for shopping. If you like you can even send invitation to your friend to join the group as well. 

Every passing day the COVID-19 pandemic is educating us new way of leading our life, bringing new reality. To stop the reach of the virus, and maintain social distancing, retail shops have closed their doors and online are where we as consumers are making most of the purchases. So, why not this year, at the approach of our most waited festival of Durga Puja, we explore our old Facebook in a new way, and enjoy a different and safe shopping experience? 

Well, I have started my Puja Shopping with Facebook, It’s time, you give it a try now. 

Happy and Safe Shopping!!!

PC: Google Image

Top Indian Online Travel Guides with Interesting Travel Contents to Follow

If you love to travel places, India is an enormous nation offering an outlandish, excessive, exquisite and differing knowledge to every voyager. Most of the time we take the help of the net whenever we plan our vacations - starting from tickets to booking hotel rooms to deciding which place can be a good option to visit. At times things are even great when there is solid travel organization or operators to encourage and manage you to comprehend your travel destination well.

Courtesy: Wikimedia

Finding a site for the best flights, or hotels is not a very tough job as we all know exactly where to look for it. But what if you need to look for a hip new travel destination? Gathering data so as to choose a destination for travel or excursion and finding substance that suits the needs of vacationers is hard as Travel sites that offer helpful travel-related data and with travel counsel, tips, or other travel-related substance are not known to many of us and they are also few in numbers.

Courtesy: Wikimedia

Here is a list of Top Travel Content sites where the principle center is on client created content as post, pictures, appraisals travelogues or remarks. These travel sites have amazing Blogs that up a universe of travel insightful choices for us.

Courtesy: Wikimedia

Tripigator:

With a perspective to improve the travel involvement in India for both residential and universal voyagers, Ministry of Tourism propelled customized schedule organizer Tripigator. The site is meant to give all travel agendas in one tab to decrease explorers' efforts. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: www.tripigator.com

Courtesy: Tripigator

Tripoto:

This is a site where travelers from around the globe share their genuine encounters, maps and photographs in form of travelogues and blogs on Tripoto. See the world through their eyes in a great many energizing travelogues.Tripoto is one of the worlds biggest travel communities, which was launched on October 2013 by Anirudh Gupta and Michael Lyngdoh. Tripoto permits clients to compose travel stories and find those composed by different explorers. The site maps each destination in every story alongside applicable substance and pictures. In the wake of enrolling to utilize the site, clients can make a profile, offer travel stories, and read other voyagers' stories. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: http://www.tripoto.com

Courtesy: Tripoto

Must See India:

Probably the first of its kind, Must See India is the largest travel guide site with informations on different gateways in India. It is the First and and only site in India giving online custom holaday bundles. Must See India was started in Jul 2008 by three enthusiastic explorers who are alumnis from IIT and NSIT. The site is amed at engaging the Indian voyager with dependable data and thorough plans.

Website: http://www.mustseeindia.com

Courtesy: Wikimedia

Thrillophilia

This is a travel site with interesting and beautiful travel blogs which can influence your travel desire. Thrillophilia is a 3 year old travel startup established by Chitra Gurnani and Abhishek Daga. The organization began with their enthusiasm for travel and their confidence in India as a decent market for experience visits. The organization has been in the space for a couple of years and has now added exercises and things to do in their portfolio. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: http://www.thrillophilia.com

Courtesy: Thrillophilia

HolidayIQ

HolidayIQ.com is an online travel group and information center controlled by client created content. Travel data is created through different types of substance including blogs, photos, and recordings HolidayIQ.com is claimed by Leisure and Lifestyle Information Services Pvt. Ltd. The organization works in the recreation travel space in India. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: http://www.holidayiq.com/

Courtesy: Wikimedia

Holidify

Yet another great travel content site Holidify.com is a destination revelation site that offers explorers some assistance with finding the right destinations as indicated by their inclinations and offer them some assistance with planning their vacations, stress free. Holidify is meant to help you finding your next occasion destination with breaking out of the tedium of the same get-away spots you have known for quite a long time and open before you, a universe of potential outcomes. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: http://www.holidify.com/

Courtesy: techlomedia

TripDesigners:

Your perfect and expert destination advisor and an online travel journal. If you can't choose where you ought to arrange your next trek for? They will counsel you and offer you some assistance with choosing and make the ideal occasion trip. Read about the absolute and most fascinating travel destination, travel encounters, and go on a photo venture through a destination.

Website: http://www.tripdesigners.co/

Courtesy: TripDesigners

Traveljee:

Established in 2013, Traveljee, has accomplished numerous turning points till date. It is one of the quickest developing travel sites over the Internet. Traveljee is likewise a standout amongst the most gone by travel web journals over the Internet. Traveljee gives the best content identified with travel tips, destinations, shorelines, and significantly more. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: http://traveljee.com/

Courtesy: Traveljee

Itripto:

The world is loaded with spots holding up to be investigated. This webpage will offer you some assistance with discovering the destinations. This site is an initiative of India.Com which unites accomplices in ZEE, PMC, and United Internet that possess and work effective content brands crosswise over TV, print, and the web.

Website: http://travel.india.com

Courtesy: Itripto

Way to India:

This travel content and travel guide platform has made a specialty for itself in the travel business in India by giving holidat destination alternatives to the travellers and tourists.

Website: http://www.waytoindia.com/

Courtesy: WaytoIndia

HappyTrips

HappyTrips.com is all about Inspiration and Information for your next trek. HappyTrips.com is the complete manual for destinations, schedules, things to do, eateries, nightlife and parcels and many more. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: http://www.happytrips.com/

Courtesy: Geekopedia

Let’s see India:

Let's See India! is made to assist you with exploring this excellent nation named India! This site will make your excursion more straightforward and less difficult by providing fresh Information about a large portion of the destinations in India and a review in an organized manner about the vacation spots in the specific destination, along with highlights of the vacation spots. This is an intuitive travel site with Information about heaps of entrancing Tourist Destinations in India. One can download their mobile app from Google Play for free.

Website: www.LetsSeeIndia.com

Courtesy: Wikimedia

WeAreHolidays:

 This site is India's very first Holiday recommendation engine.

Website: http://www.weareholidays.com/

Courtesy: Weareholidays

This Festive Season Buy Saree Online

Fashion has a tendency to change in an unremitting way. Still, there are sure styles that never blur away. Sari, the Indian customary wear just appears to prosper more with each passing fashion. A lady can't get enough of this ethnic wear. That is the reason, why very nearly each and every lady, has wrapped herself in a sari, at one point of time, in her life.

Separated from being an Asian female piece of clothing, sari is considered in India as an image of her society. It basically holds Indian legacy and traditions. Such is the hugeness of sari in our nation that it is regularly connected with the identity of a lady.

In our Indian culture individuals do not buy saris only for themselves, gifting sari to near and dear ones on different occasion is very common in India. Especially during festive seasons we love to buy new clothes and saris. Wedding seasons are also very common time when saris are bought in bulks.

Normally we buy saris by visiting different shops but nowadays online shopping is becoming more and more popular and convenient. Purchasing Saris online is one of the convenient ways which saves time as well as money. Today purchasing saris online is more developed, easy to use, advantageous and charming strategy for shopping contrasted with the customary structure.

An online store offers a gigantic gathering of delightful saris; one can't deny liking it. You will be flabbergasted to see the level of variety they may have. More often than not, these online vendors purchase heft of saris specifically from the producers which are the reason they can offer them at an amazingly low rates. But don't be perplexed to see the price, as the low cost ought not to be ascribed to its quality. Thus, purchasing saris online has gotten to be so agreeable and dependable.

However, it is always wise to buy from dependable and trusted online sari vendors, organization or individual. Now you must be thinking that where to find such trusted and agreeable online sari vendors?

Well it is true that finding trusted online sari vendors can be troublesome and if you are new to online purchasing world then it can be very confusing and tough for you to find.

Today I am sharing names of three such online vendors who bring to you beautiful and gorgeous Indian saris, both tradition types and contemporary fashion, at amazingly affordable rates. You can also find Dress materials, Kurti, and readymade Blouse pieces from them.

1.      Sri Seethaladevi Silks (https://www.facebook.com/sriseethaladevisilks)

2.      Aabaran by Procheta Nandi (https://www.facebook.com/AabaranByProchetaNandi)

3.      Look and Adorn - Handcrafted Saga of Threads (https://www.facebook.com/LAATHREADS)

Visit their page and you can see various and wide collection of saris that are accessible in various sorts of fabrics, compositions, shades, outlines, and so on. Photos indicated on their online page can provide for you fundamental thought regarding appearance of saris.  Booking and payment is very easy and their service is good as well. All relevant details about ordering and payment is available on their FB page

Festive and wedding seasons are knocking at the door, It’s time for shopping so before you decide upon taking the same old method of buying, think again, You might be missing something beautiful, gorgeous, and wide affordable choices not found anywhere else. Do make a small visit to the pages above and enjoy shopping.