DURGA PUJA BY BENGALI COMMUNITY:
A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Sohini Das
Ashwiner majha majhi uthilo bajna baji,pujo’r shomoy elo kachey,
Modhu Bidhu dui bhai,chhota chhuti korey tai, anondey du haath tuli
nachey.
I have always associated Durga puja with this Tagore poem. Brothers Modhu and Bidhu wait
eagerly to see the pair of new clothes their father is getting for them as pujo gifts. Walking
down the memory lane my heart always echoed similar sentiments at the mention of Durga
puja.Craving for new clothes, exchanging gifts, gorging on goodies, catching up with
friends, home coming from distant lands ,the city light decorations, streets buzzing with the
ever bargaining puja shoppers set the mood of festivities just right back in Kolkata
(Calcutta).Such an introduction to a religious festival might just confuse you a bit.Is it just a
religious festival or a cultural carnival of some sort? The opulent setting of pandals,the exquisite clay figurines of Gods,Goddesses,demons and animals are actually tip of the iceburg.Mamoth effort and colossal coordination for days together by organisers,pandal makers,artists,architects,florists ????????????????????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????9?????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????-???????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????L?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????((0