durga puja 2005?

mrwhatisyourname

Hi!
I am new to this forum, so I am not sure if this is the right place to post this topic. (You are welcome to correct me!)
In oktober my girlfriend and I will be in North-India. Now we heard about the durga-puja and are considering to be in Colcatta during this time (We have enough time left in our schedule, it would be just a few more hours/days by train).
We have not yet decided and have some more questions. Perhaps you have experienced this event before and can answer these or can give some further advice:

1) Will the trains and busses going there be booked out?
2) Can we still get accomodation there during that time?
3) Is it worth to see it? (ok, I know your answers already )
4) How crazy are the people during the festival?
5) Is it safe to get into the crowds as a tourist?
Any more ideas?

Thanks in advance! I am quite sure, I will visit this great forum many more times!

Greetings
mrwhatisyourname

ddutta

Welcome to IM Family. Trying to answer your questions :

1)Yes bus , train will be over booked , but depending from where you are coming from & where you will proceed further. Local transport wont be a problem.

2)Accomodation wont be a problem , if staying in Kolkata. Yes , even in rush days of Durga Puja ( 9th - 12th October ,2005 )

3)you know the answer

4)Some info about Durga Pujahttp://www.wbtourism.com/fairs_festivals/durga.htm

5)Kolkata is comparetively safe city , just follow the normal safety rules & apply your common sense , you will be OK

Links to some great write up about Durga Puja by our dearest member sadhuji :-
mahalaya
the durga puja
durga idols 2004
four days of fun
bijoya dasami
the flip side of durga puja

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babuchand

hi,

from where (in India) are u coming to kolkata / Calcutta???
most probably u wont need a bus journey.

If u r trying to get train tickets book through foreign tourist quota. go to the indian rail websiten http://www.indianrail.gov.in/

u can fly to kolkata if budget permits.

regarding its worth..... its the biggest festival in this part of the world. kind of carnival lasting for 4-5 days. it has a sentimental and religious part attached to it but without thal also its worth watching and capturing... with both your senses and camera

its not unsafe.... but try to avoid too crowdy places during evening.... nights are cool for night outs in streets of the city.

additionally u are getting chance to visit this great city and its surroundings.

u can visit darjeeling, lava-lollegaon, sandakphu in himalayas or some tropical forests like jaldapara, gorumara, kankra jhore (contact west bengal forest department) or sea shores like digha and shankarpur. the largest swamp forest of the world-sundervan is not a bad option either.

so keep aside 8-10 days and visit kolkata and its surrounding tourist spots.

keep in mind that this year Durga puja is scheduled from 9th October to 12th October.

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somnath

Hi mrwhatisyourname,
Welcome to IndiaMike. the topic is Durgapuja and you are posting it in Kolkata (Calcutta) section so perfect 10.
I am trying to give you answer and I am sure these will generate more questions in your mind.

1) there will be rush but you should be very specific while planning. Like To and From etc.

2) Accommodation is not a problem in Calcutta but please do not forget, it is Durgapuja, so you cann't expect budget accommodations at the prime location if you are too late.

3) You know better.

4) What is the unite? Ha ha ha….. come on …… can you measure HOW crazy are you during Christmas? . By the way, you can understand by the posts (specially timing).

5) Keep your eyes open and wallet safe and mix-up in the crowd. Just another friendly suggestion, though I am from Kolkata and Bengali by birth, sorry to say, still I try to keep women (family members / friends) away from the crowd. The police provide security but my experience says it is still insufficient to prevent eve teasing. So it is my request if you are with your girlfriend, try to stay away from the crowd but enjoy the festival.

Fix your tour program to enjoy Durgapuja in Kolkata.
Best of luck.

Somnath

mrwhatisyourname

Thank you all for the fast & helpful answers!

I think we will change our plans, so we can see this great festival.
Btw we are arriving from Varanasi (Benares) and will then continue to Darjeeling. Our initial plan was to go from Varanasi directly to Darjeeling, but then we would miss Durga Puja!

Thanks again
mrwhatisyourname

Nick-H

I don't think you can miss it... It will be celebrated everywhere! Even in London it will be celebrated

BTW... I get confused, Durga Puja is part of Navaratri, which is a nine-night festival? (ddutta gives four days in his dates)

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somnath

Excellent question Nick. It shows your interest to Indian mythology also . I am trying to share the explanation with you all (the source of this info is also given).

‘Navratri’ means ‘nine nights’. There are many legends attached to the conception of Navratri like all Indian festivals but all of them are related to Goddess Shakti (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms. Though it is one of the most celebrated festivals of Hindu calendar, it holds special significance for Gujratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervor of the people with which they indulge in the festive activities of the season.
a. The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion,
b. Next three to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) dressed in gold and mounted on an owl and finally,
c. last three to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess Of Knowledge) dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan.......

Durgapuja - http://festivals.iloveindia.com/durg...urga-puja.html
Navratri - http://festivals.iloveindia.com/navratri/index.html

You can enjoy Durgapuja even in Darjeeling. Those who have visited Darjeeling must have seen the permanent stage at chowrasta (or mall), that is the place for Durapuja at Darjeeling. But mrwhatisyourname, I’ll request you to go Darjeeling via Kolkata to experience Durgapuja in Kolkata. It will be memorable.

Thanks
Somnath

babuchand

i agree with somnath, that one need to get to kolkata to see the Durga puja. it may be celebrated in various parts of the world but to get the real essence of it one need to be in kolkata. stay in one good 3 star hotel near the centre of the city and.....

AvidTrekker

It is on for nine days, I guess the last four may be considered as more important in Kolkata. Traditionally there are two navaraatriis, the chaitra n. in April & the sharad navaraatrii in Oct. The October one has become very popular.

The Gujaraatii women do garba [dance form]. This is a corruption of the word "garbha" meaning womb in sanskrit. It celebrates the Goddess bestowing a fertile womb to all those who want it. Then the Gujaraatiis also do Raasa nritya [dance] with sticks. Both male and female. This is an imitation of Lord Krishna's antics. the Bhaagavata PuraaNa states that Krishna made many copies of himself and played Raasa nritya with all the gopies (female cowherds) at the same time at the same place. Today of course, it's been reduced to a pre-marriage flirting rite; and "navaraatri abortions" are a regular feature among Gynaecs.

As stated correctly by somnath the first triad honours Durgaa, the 2nd honours Lakshmi, the last honours Saraswati. For most people these are three different Goddesses [having a female form] dressed in different colours and in charge of bestowing various different gifts.

In reality, these three goddesses are divine powers or shakti, & these powers are avialable to ALL OF US; without fear or favour.

Durgaa, the fierce one is nothing but kriyaa shaakti. Power to accomplish work and "tasks". Example: Mother Teresa, Great wall of China, Abe Lincoln.

Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth, is nothing but Gaia, our very dear mother Earth, [she is a living being] without whose warm embrace we would freeze in outer space.

Saraswati, the Goddess of speech is Vaak-shakti, the power of speech in all of us. The art of communication from human to human, particularly, vocalized speech. Even the ability to write on this forum is due to her Grace.

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Nick-H

Thanks Somnath and AvidTrecker.

I'm used to celebrating Navaratri in London at the various Tamil temples: there is a great demand for music and us music students get a chance to play. It is things like this that make me feel that sometimes I experience India more intimately in London than I can in India!

I am usually confused as to which Godess aspect is being celebrated on any particular night --- your explanations are very useful.

I often remember these nights during the rest of the year, as the chant, "Om Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Shakti" pops into my head.

There is a tenth-night celebration too: Dusera. This is a big day for us music students and I usually spend the day with classmates playing percussion for a local veena teacher: all her students will take a turn and we can be playing for 8 hours. Here is a pic. Probably only the wallpaper gives away that it is not India! We will also take gifts and do puja for our own teachers.

I nearly went to a Bengali Navaratri celebration in London last year, but the person who was going to take us couldn't go. I gather that it is more 'fun-and-games' than the essentially religious Tamil one. --- after reading AvidTrecker's post I'm particularly sorry I didn't make it that evening

The energy in the temples on these evenings is very lovely and I strongly recommend a visit (...or nine )

sadhuji

welcome from my side as well. you'll love kolkata during the durga pujas and carry back loads of memories along with you that you will cherish for years to come. happy journey.

and ddutta, thanks for providing the links.

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Paagla Dashu

There is a saying - "Bengalis live for four days in a year". You can read that any way you like , but thats how important Durga Puja is to a Bengali. I have not been able to go to India during Durgapuja since 2003, and I cannot even begin to describe how I feel.

As someone has mentioned there are in fact two times during the year that Goddess Durga is worshipped - in Chaitra (March/April) and in Ashwin (October). Originally, Chaitra Durgapuja or Vasanti Puja as its called sometimes was the only time the Goddess was worshipped. The Puja during Ashwin was started by Lord Rama and as it was during an unusual time - its still known as "Akaal Bodhan" (Untimely Worship).

There is an interesting story around Rama's akaal Bodhan that throws interesting insights into the Indian Culture and the inherent acceptance of shades of grey in the Hindu Religion.

It goes like this - When Rama was fighting Ravana to free Sita from his clutches, he was not successful in killing Ravana as he was given the boon of immortality by Shiva / Brahma. When Rama approched the gods to ask them how Ravana could be killed and defeated, he was advised to invoke Goddess Durga as she could give him Ravana's "mrityuvaan" (death arrow). This was in the month of Ashwin. Rama decided to invoke the goddess (thats why Akaal Bodhan) - but was faced with an intriguing problem. As a khsatriya (warrior) himself, he could not perform the puja and there were no Brahmins on his side. The only Brahmin in the entire region was Ravana. Rama had to approach ravan to request him to be the priest for the puja - even though Ravana knew why Rama was invoking the goddess. as a true Brahmin, he could not refuse and performed the puja as a priest.

[ Offtopic - There are also some other interesting observations related to this version of the story - 1. Ravana kidnapped Sita not out of lust or vengeance - but to bring fertility to barren Lanka - since Sita was the daughter of mother earth and symbol of fertility. 2. Ravan was in fact one of the attendants of Lord Vishnu in a previous life - who was banished by Vishnu to take 10 births on earth as punishment of a mistake he and another attendant had made. Vishnu was sad handing out the punishment and promised that each time they were born on earth - he would also take birth (ten incaranations - Dus Avataar). He advised his attendants that if they worshipped him as a friend they will be freed from their life on earth but if they treated him as enemy - they will be freed sooner. Very interesting insights into the philosophy.]

Getting back to topic, thats why the Durgapuja in Ashwin and Ramlila celebrations in Bihar/UP and Navratri in many other parts of India happen over the same days of the year.

sadhuji

yes pagla, i have also not seen the kolkata durga puja for ages. the last time was i think in 1994 or 1995!! i'd love to be there to enjoy those night long visits to puja pandals with a retinue of friends/relatives, quench our thirst at road side stalls and stuff ourselves with those prohibited stuff like fish fry and aloor chop and egg rolls and ..... the list is a long one.

laneelee

My boyfriend and I will be there for the festival. Any imer wanting to meet up Oct 10 -12th would be great! We/re staying at the fairlawn.

somnath

Laneelee, Great news!!!!
I can see from your other posts that you wanted to know more about the Durga puja and all. You are at the right place now. Welcome to Kolkata.
But again it is a festival time and the time to take long holidays, not sure how many IMers (Kolkata) will be there during Durga Puja. I think a major chunk will start on 8th Aug (Saturday) night. I am also planning for one of my dream destinations – Rajasthan during that time. But I’m very efficient to plan my work (trip) but the success rate to work the plan is very poor. So there is always a chance to meet you all . Lets see what happens.
But let me tell you, Kolkata during Durga Puja – will be a memorable experience for both of you.

Cheers,
Somnath