Durga Puja - The Essence of Bengali Culture

Durga Puja is an age-old Hindu tradition in which the deity is worshipped to bring prosperity and goodness in the lives of the devotees. The ancient Hindu texts mentioning Durga are somewhat inconsistent though. Durga Puja has been cited as a Spring festival in one version of Puranas. Again, it has been presented as an Autumn festival in some other version. In Krittivasa's Ramayana, Lord Rama worshipped Durga in the Autumn to seek her blessings in defeating the demon King, Ravana. This is referred to as the “akaal bodhan” or the untimed worship of the Goddess because, before this, Durga was usually worshipped in the Spring. Lord Rama, in an urgent need to seek the Goddess’s blessings and defeat Ravana, worshipped Durga, way before the usual Springtime ceremony.

In Bengal, the demon defeater Durga has got transformed into a household woman who returns every year from her marital home in the heavens to her paternal home on earth with her four children - Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, and Kartik. The Bengalis worship the goddess in a more humanly form from Sasthi to Dashami. Devi Durga is shown as a beloved daughter and a doting mother in Bengal. The goddess is portrayed as a married daughter who returns to her blood family once a year. This is how Durga has been familiarized with Bengali culture.

In Kolkata, Durga festival is celebrated with such grandeur and euphoria, you will not find it in any other place in the world! In the City of Joy, Durga Puja is not just a religious festival but each year it turns into a fiesta. The extravagant pandals and the artwork centering around Maa Durga’s homecoming turn Kolkata into a magical destination during the Pujas.

Durga Puja is a festival that marks the victory of the ten-handed Goddess Durga against the shape-shifting demon, Mahishasura. It is the celebration of good over evil and the recognition of feminine power. Durga Puja is a ten-day festivity that starts with Mahalaya, the day for the Hindus to offer water and food to their deceased ancestors by doing tarpana. This day also marks Goddess Durga's journey from Kailash, her husband Mahadev's abode. After Mahalaya, the significant days in the Durga festival are Sasthi (the sixth day), Saptami (the seventh day), Ashtami (the eighth day), Navami (the ninth day), and Dashami (tenth and the final day). Dashami marks the Goddess’s return to Kailash.

For the Bengalis, it is that time of the year they can spend unapologetically lazing around, eating sumptuous meals, pandal hopping with friends and family, or use up entire evenings in adda, nostalgia, and music.

Earlier, Durga Puja was an elegant religious affair confined at the luxurious palaces of the zamindars. Back in the day, commoners were only allowed to attend the festivity at the homes of the royals but it was mostly a show-off event to stun the ordinary people.

In Kolkata, Nabakrishna Deb inaugurated Durga Puja in 1757.  He started the puja as a status symbol of the wealthy royal family.

In the British era, Durga Puja was undoubtedly an extravagant affair of the royals to glorify their family prestige. Gradually, Durga Puja fitted into an occasion for one and all. In Kolkata, Durga Puja changed from bonedi to barowari to sarbojanin. “Bonedi” puja refers to the celebration by the aristocrats. Still, there are a few distinguished families who conduct the puja every year maintaining their traditions and grace. When Durga puja was opened to the general public, it was termed “barowari”. The term “barowari” comes from the Sanskrit word “bar” meaning “public” and the Persian word “wari” meaning “for”.

The first Barowari puja in Bengal was held in 1790 when a group of people was forbidden from participating in a bonedi Durga puja in Guptipara. Those men gathered together and started a community Durga puja.

In recent times, Sarbojonin Durgotsav is the most popular. It means an “all-inclusive” puja in which anyone and everyone can participate. The funds are collected as donations from the public. Sarbojonin puja culture has brought people of all statuses to celebrate the puja with the same level of enthusiasm and involvement. In Kolkata, not only the Bengalis but people from other communities also get involved in the preparation and celebration of Durga Puja.

Although, it can be argued that the biggest festival of the Bengalis has veered again into an event of boastful display. More than a joyful celebration, Durga Puja is now more about competition, a game between brands and sponsors.

From last year, the pandemic has restricted Kolkata’s grand celebration to some extent but the fervor in people has not died away. This year, Durga Puja still remains a reason to wear new clothes, go pandal hopping with friends and eat lavish meals in a trice. Durga Puja in Bengal has developed into an industry that provides to thousands of artisans and small businesses. Durga festival still has the power to give you many reasons to smile and hold on to your faith for the coming days.

By

Ishita Ganguly