durga puja 2005 is here

sadhuji

The festive season has begun. Ganesh pujas are over and Durga Puja is just around the corner. Kolkata Doordarshan plans to telecast a documentary made to honor the legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra on his centenary. The program will be telecast on the day prior to Mahalaya. Birendra Krishna Bhadra needs no introduction to Bengalis – the Durga Puja festivities begin with his recitation of early morning stotras over Akashvani (All India Radio) on the occasion of Mahalaya. This is the auspicious day when Goddess Durga is supposed to have begun her journey, along with her children, from the Himalayas to come down to Earth and visit the house of her Mother.

Monsoons are beating the retreat, there is a nip in the air, the print media gives full page displays of different varieties of footwear on offer, and the Railways announce Puja special trains from various destinations to Howrah, one of the busiest of railway stations in the sub-continent during these festivities. The electronic media does not want to be left far behind – they bombard you with display of the latest in dress and fashion, of unheard of tourist destinations in and around Bengal apart from discussions on every conceivable subject under the sun related to ‘how best to extract the maximum from the four days.’ A visit to the net revealed a couple of interesting sites:

http://www.durga-puja.org/mahalaya.html
http://www.flonnet.com/fl2020/storie...0000106600.htm
http://www.bengalonthenet.com/puja/p...id=2&sub_sec=1

In the last few years, the very concept of community celebrations has changed considerably. It seems plans for the year begin soon after the immersions of the previous year. The artists (usually from the Art colleges) who design the theme and associated paraphernalia carry out volumes of research and take the assistance of the internet to come up with attractive proposals. Once the Puja committee approves them, the activities begin. The idol making is entrusted to reliable persons who are given cell phones so that minute to minute progress can be monitored! The organizers leave no stone unturned to ensure the best value for money. In the modern age of sponsorship, it is the hype created around the Puja that matter – hype creates a curiosity which translates into greater visibility for the sponsors. In fact, large houses have instituted awards for which teams are formed by drawing together a group of talented persons (established authors, singers, sportspersons, stars of the silver screens etc.) who visit the pandals and judge the idols, the decorations, the themes, the arrangements. Obviously, the competition is intense and every organizer plays his cards close to his chest, there have been instances when spying networks are set up to collect secret information on the rival’s preparations.

For those who live outside Bengal, this is usually the period of homecoming. For youngsters, this could be an annual affair, for the elders, it may occur once in two or four years, depending on the feasibility of getting leave and considering school schedules of their children. The families normally choose to travel by train for which tickets are procured two months in advance. Once the tickets are in the custody, the count down begins culminating with frantic buying for the near and dear ones back home as the D-day approaches. The train journey remains a memorable one because you discover that practically every other passenger is in your category. You exchange notes and, in some cases, addresses, phone numbers.

other interesting links –

http://freewebs.com/prabirghose/

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mooning over a moon journey

Paagla Dashu

That line brought tears to my eyes.

After 2002, I have not been home for Durgapuja. (I have been home but at other times of the year).

When I was about 12-13, I remember strains of Asha's "Chokhe chokhe hai katha bolo...." coming from the Pujo Mandap in the afternoon. Whenever anyone plays that song even today, I go back in time.

natasha chanda acharya

Listened to mahalaya on the Radio this morning.
Was overwhelmed as usual. It's a very special time of the year.
For any other reason but this I'd crib about getting up in the morning, but this is one day of the year when I have to get up early and listen to the radio. It fills up your being with all that is "pujo" apart from the inevitable feeling of peace and quiet and contentment and all is well with the world.

On a more personal note, both my parents and my in laws have come to visit.
And by the Lunar calender, I was born on Mahalaya. Music, food and more food, tons of sweets, women shopping till they drop dead, men complaining about lighter wallets, lots of adda... I am in the midle of it all! Total chaos and happiness around me right now.

Wishing all bongs and others who are bongs at heart a very happy pujo from me. God bless.

sadhuji

i also woke up early morning and listened to the cassette. it was an out of the world experience, as always.

and - a very happy birthday.

jyotirmoy

For the last one month while returning back from my lab to home I drive thru the C.R. Park. I had been looking at the making of the pandals like a string of freeze photo shots. Now the structures are all erected final touches are been given. There is festive spirit in the air, aroma of food is slowly wafting in the air as some stalls are coming up in the new DDA market, the fish mongers are jacking up the price, the saree exposition is creating traffic jams which I dont mind.

tintin8801

this yr puja is only fr 3 days!!.............i wish it were 4 as usual...........i hope we wil have a extended puja flavour any way , he he

welcome to sharadotsav 05......

shanthi

Happy Puja to all!

sadhuji

flavour you said???????????? do you mean the innumerable selection of sweets like mihidana, rajbhog, cham-cham and fried stuff like aloor chop or mughlai parathas or chicken cutlets or kabiraji cutlets????????????

TREKorDIE

you missed ghugni, sadhuji.

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TREKorDIE:
" BECAUSE IT IS THERE ! ! ! "

jyotirmoy

The Kabirajis are yet to arrive but the sighns are there. Sweet shops like Annapurna are doing brisk business already. Some how the spirit takes hold of you almost a week in advance. Spulrging on the large prawns justifying it with saying that Oh! its Puja time you know. Good Ilish is still around & will grace many a plates during the Puja, suddenly a steady & stout supply has beatified the stalls are those majestic Bhetkis from the brakish waters, thin fillets well marinated in onion,ginger,green chillies, drenched with ground roasted Corriander, cumin & a bit of cloves, bathed in beaten egg, rolled on bread crumbs & its final immersion in hot mustard oil. The journey ends on a plate with a blob of Kasundi & sliced onions.....

Paagla Dashu

NOT ANOTHER WORD! Or I will die of envy!

ENJOY!

jyotirmoy

Oh come on Pagla why should you die? You say you live in the tropics so laying your hands on fish & the spices are not a big deal isnt it? If I remember right you had spoken of Alu Posto right? So whah did you have with it? Biuli Dal & Kuler Achar? Have you ever tried Mutton Posto? I will post a recipe may be.

TREKorDIE

Mutton Posto!!!!!!!

never heard of that.
Post the recipe plz.

natasha chanda acharya

Just see. Back to food again!

I have been thinking for sometime now, we should have a forum in IM just for recipies! Mike, are you reading this?

PRIYA

Maybe "Recipe of the Day" could be made into a sticky thread??

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Happiness is for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. (Anon.)