"Ya devi sarvabhuteshu shakti - rupena
samsthita
Namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai namo
namah"
The above mantra evokes a
strange tingling sensation at the bottom of every Bengali stomach. The reason
is Durga Puja. In India and beyond many festivals are celebrated each year, but
the kind of craze Sharodutsab witnesses cannot be described in words known to
me. This festival is much more than festivities. If you visit West Bengal or
more precisely Kolkata during this festival, what you will witness is not just a
city drowned in celebrations. You will see an art gallery. Each puja pandal
will be colossal, majestic. Somewhere they would have replicated the deserts of
Rajasthan and somewhere you will see the white house in front of you. Artists
and craftsmen from around the nation come to create such masterpieces which
treats your eye candidly and lovingly. Again the idol, oozing beauty,
signifying women empowerment and showering love and blessing, such is my triple
eyed gracious Ma. Every corner of the city is enlightened with the lights of
love and effervescence. Decked up like a new bride, it awaits our visits.
A Durga Puja Pandal of Kolkata
Miles away from hometown,
we too do not want to miss out euphoria attached with Sharodutsab. Hence an
easy option is to book tickets and fly to Kolkata. Where our family awaits our
home coming. However as they say, man proposes God disposes. Durga Ma had other
plans for us. From the last three years we have spent the auspicious Durga Puja
Days in Mumbai. And to say the least it has been more than fulfilling. The
reason may be, distance makes us more aware of our roots and hence we want to
embrace our beings more passionately and also the people who share our
thoughts. Spandan a socio-cultural group, has been our ground of
togetherness, festivity and euphoria for the last three consecutive years
during Sharodutsav and more. We call our Puja “Powai Sharodotsab” as the
Puja takes place in Powai and most of the members also belong to the same. But
again there are people like us, who travel at least 30 minutes each time to
join the celebrations. These celebrations breathe enough life to combat the
fast and furious life of the city for the rest of the year.
My narrative to follow is
about “Powai Sharodotsab 2015”, like every year this year too we had a
theme “REDISCOVERING ROOTS”. Innovative isn’t it?
Theme pujas are very common in West-Bengal but not so in Mumbai, hence Spandan
always stands apart by bringing out a unique theme each year. Our Idol, pandal
and everything associated, resonates the theme we pitch.
What are we, if we donot
know our roots? What are we, if we donot appreciate it? What are we, if we deny
the clay that makes us? What are we, without our roots?
Keeping to our Theme this
year, our idol was that traditional Ekchala. The pandal was decorated using
Madhubani paintings from Bihar and Patachitra from rural Bengal. Even the
inauguration was done by the artists themselves, who had taken out time of
their simple village life to grace us in our maddening city. The paintings used
were later auctioned and the money given to the talented artists.
A GLIPMSE OF ANANDO MELA:
Ghugni...Yummy!!
The winners
Some delectable Chinese spread
INAUGURATION:
Inauguration Ceremony
The door to the Goddess is finally opened
Ma in all her grandeur
Me ready for the inauguration programme
Pretty ladies of Spandan
Festivities started from Chothurthi,
with the Anando Mela or Kitchen Battle. Where home cooked delicacies fight it
out to be crowned the best. The inauguration was on Panchami. When our
charismatic Ma was unveiled to bestow the world with all the goods. Attired in
elaborate golden accessories and that powerful yet subtle look, melts you down
as an onlooker. Devotion, love and a complex mixture of both spray like
hormones in your inside. A strange feeling of being at home, even if you are
away. Panchami night was beautifully decorated with children’s superlative
dance performances. It was a treat to see crowd pouring in, right from day one.
Our Natok Group
A moment of rejoice
Shasti was special for me and Avishek. Like every year we
had participated in a play, this time it was “Abbulish”. Grossly based
on a story line similar to the famous movie “Liar Liar” starring Jim Carrey, it
engaged the audience and they laughed their hearts out on every punch line.
Despite of our hectic schedules, job life, travel, we had rehearsed and put
rigorous efforts to stage a good show. And eventually we did. It was heart-warming
to experience the kind of appreciation that followed. And that’s the best part
of Spandan, there is humongous encouragement and driving force for you to take a
toll on your daily schedule and live your dreams. Good education and
achievements can only humble you, and I believe Spandan’s senior members are
brand ambassadors of this school of thought.
A fusion of Manipuri and Bharatnatyam
A lovely Dance Performance
Little Fairies
On Saptami there
was famous Bengali singer Jojo’s
programme, followed by Ash King’s
ravishing and engaging programme on Ashami night. On Nabami we rediscovered
our roots yet again with singer Swapan
Bose’s songs which brings with it the fragrance of wet earth, songs that
treat your soul with moments of freedom. However our in-house performances were
no less than celebrity acts. Whether we talk of the Agamani songs, or the Manipuri
and Bharatnatyam fusion act, the elaborate Kathak extravaganza or the exuberant “Tasher Desh” each performance was a collectively portrayed masterpiece
and treat to all our senses. Kudos to each one who brightened our evenings with
their elaborate and magnificent talent, especially the little ones.
Ashtamir Anjali
Avishek
With Ash King
Rai and me on stage
Saptami Night
Nabami Night with Avishek
On Dashami with Bidisha and Dolan
We With Mainak and Bidisha
With Prabhjot, Krishna and Bidisha
We with Shalaka and Nilesh
Durga Puja is also about
elaborate rituals and offerings and my deepest regards to the people in the
Puja Committee who had put huge efforts to let every ritual flow laminar with
the tithi. Not to forget the odd timings and the sleepless nights.
After Sindur Khela
The end of a season of
festivity is marked with the ritual of Sindur Khela. A beautiful and colourful
part wherein all women bid adieu to Ma by putting vermillion onto her and
performing the “Boron” rituals. All married woman clad in typical Bengali
fabrics and gold ornaments, play with vermillion smearing the air with red
colour. It is a beautiful sight to behold and many photographers come to prison
a few moments behind the bars of the lenses. Spandan’s Sindur Khela was captured by ABP news and featured live.
Festivities come to an
end with immersion. Amidst the rhythm of Dhak, Sankha Dhyani, Ulu Dhyani and immeasurable
heaviness, Ma starts her voyage towards Kailash. And we, her children, start with our regular
lives only in the hope of her return next year.
In this journey called
life, festivals are a chance to actually live. Otherwise we eat, sleep, work
and life moves on in its own sweet pace inadvertently. And so festivities to me
is like that oxygen that gets me going. Because it is a hope, a hope for
happiness to return, a hope to feel content. I donot not know, if I am over enthusiastic
but yet I shamelessly say, I am already waiting for her return next year.
“Asche bochor abar hobe”
Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta
Pic courtesy: Mukesh Trivedi, Snehajit Roy, Prosun Roy, Arpita Panja, Shubhaasini Ghosh, Sanjiv Bose, Snehasis Batabyal, Mainak Chatterjee and Avishek Sengupta
You May also READ:
1. Unveiling the goddess with spandan
2. Rehearsing for our upcoming play-durgapuja 2015
3. The festival has begun with khnuti pujo
4. Durga puja-celebrating life
5. My six day saree saga
You May also READ:
1. Unveiling the goddess with spandan
2. Rehearsing for our upcoming play-durgapuja 2015
3. The festival has begun with khnuti pujo
4. Durga puja-celebrating life
5. My six day saree saga
