The Pujo fever..

The day has arrived and the Pujo fevor has set in. The smell of Pujo Eau de cologne is set in the air and the Calcuttans are dancing on their way to work in anticipation of the Pujo grandeur. The pandals have been belted and the Idol of Ma Durga has been inaugurated almost everywhere in Kolkata. The city with the lights shining in every nook and corner of the city looks a bride’s lehenga with all the glitters and stones work. The effect is the same. It’s almost like a wedding; the city seems to be getting married to celebrations and excitement.

The celebration of Durga Puja goes very far back in history and there are abundant references to it in India literature from 12th century onwards. However, today Durga Puja is generally a community festival. The Puja celebration over the years has changed color often. Earlier, it was the most expensive of all festivals and could only be performed by the rich and the powerful like feudal lords, rajas and big businessmen. However, it always evoked great enthusiasm and popular support.

While earlier Durga was worshiped alone, now it is, more often than not, the goddess with her family. Durga is portrayed as the supreme head; and the presence of Ganesha, Kartikeya, Shiva etc marks a wholesome picture of divinity. In southern India celebrations constitute a display of images of God and toys at home for nine days. But despite the various ways in which this festival is celebrated the feature that is common is that of the worship of the mother goddess

The mother of universe personifying tender love.
Durga Puja is celebrated in the autumn months of September/October. According to the Hindu solar calendar, it falls on the first nine days of the month of Ashvin. It hinges around Mahalaya day, a week before the actual celebrations begin. It was on this day that Durga was assigned the task of eliminating evil.

Though Pandal Hopping is the main feature of the D-Day(s) one can’t write it off without mentioning food in all its glory! The Kolkatan’s almost munch on anything while the Bhoger Khichuri with Baigun Bhaja, Payesh (kheer), Posto Alu being in the hit list.
Did I miss Puchkas, jhaal muri and the tangy and the yummiest street food?? No, I just can’t I know!!

While the Pujo gives us 5 days on head bang celebration, the fever stays on for more than a month after we do Visarjan of Maa in the Ganges (many are seeing crying here, I do)


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