Puja and Kolkata it seems as if these two words are inseparable. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing , if you have ever been to Kolkata during the autumn festival you’ll definitely wish to come back again.
We call it the biggest festival of the Bengalis , but is it only so? The answer is definitely “No”. Durga Puja is really a festival of all those who want to enjoy , for those who have a heart to make merry. You need not be a Hindu , you need not be a Bengali , all u need is a fun loving heart.
There are certain changes in the city when the Puja nears.
The first thing that you observe is that golden warm sunlight when you wake up in the morning.
Get up and you’ll hear those dhakis( drummer in Bengali) beating their drums. Believe me they will drive you to a land of festival and merry making.
Dhakis of Bengal
Dont think this is the end of essencing the autumn festival. Just walk a few steps out of your house and there are those huge bamboo structures waiting to be wrapped with the colourful sheets of cloth. These would become the abode of Durga Ma for the five day festival.
Big colorful hoardings add a little more to the color and vigour of this city.
Out in the markets, leave apart the shopping malls , people move from shop to shop with handful of plastic bags. Its the festival of shopping. From the Gariahat footpath to the largest and costliest shops in the city – all are filled with customers shopping for the Puja.
Puja Shopping craze
The kids running about everywhere flaunting their new toy guns and playing police and thief with their mates. One may even catch you asking for how many did you get this time. Dont take it in any other way. The little kid is just asking for the number of new dresses you got for the festival.
Its the festival of joy in the City of joy. An undying City, Kolkata , welcomes all to get the flavor of this big magical festival.
Its the festival of coming back home.
Hmm, makes me homesick, this post. But sorry, cant come this time but will explore Puja@Bangalore.
And what about Mysore???????????
Sudeshna,
Feels wonderful reading about durga puja in so many blogs. Hope you’re having a great one. I wish I could go back home for the pujas. God Bless!
Came here from Kalyan’s blog. Oh yes… the nostalgia of the Puja!!
Dhakis of Bengal bring real bits of Puja. They really drive us to a land of festival and merry making.
yes i surely have felt the environmental changes during the puja. the people walk and talk at a more leisurely pace. huge billboards with the face of the goddess lines up streets. people are busy shopping for the festival. students are already on a vacation. when out of eastern india, such sights and smells are missing.
Puja breathes in a new life to each n every part of Bengal thereby rejuvenating it with the gr8 arrival.Its not only the behavioural change in the people but also the atmosphere starting from the sky to the air around wraps a new cover of joy that can be felt everytime you take a glance at the autumn sky from your window.The blue autumn sky with pieces of clouds sets in a mood of celebration.For me puja is associated with home coming like the godess from heaven so is it for people based outside bengal.The shopping part of it is just a way of giving a touch of excitement to ourselves about the fact that we are preparing for a gr8 event and shopping is indeed the first step towards that auspicious occassion.So for me no matter wherever Iam my favourite detstination during pujas so far has been nowhere else but kolkata ofcourse which happens to be my home as well .So all u guys there get ready for the gr8 gala super festival of the year starting from 5th october 208 this year.Maa Ashche
Have you ever been to mumbai during pujo?
if not check it out here http://apurbasen.blogspot.com/