Saturday, October 25, 2008

Durga Puja,Kolkata'08

What is "Durga Puja" ??
The Wikipedia says: "The worship of Durga in the autumn month of Sharat is the major festival in Bengal. Puja means worship, and Durga's Puja is celebrated from the sixth to tenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashvin, which is the sixth month in the Hindu Calendar. i>

Carrying the idol | Kumartuli,the potter's town in Kolkata
Carrying the idol on shoulder | Kumartoli,Kolkata
This neighborhood of clay-sculptors and artistes supply more than 12,000 Durga Idols every year to different Puja committees of Kolkata.

Durga Ma ...rushing away from Kumartuli
Durga Ma ...Rushing away ...

Saptami -On Saptami, the image of the goddess is infused with life through a process called Bodhon. Early in the morning, the pran of the Devi is put inside the image after it is brought from a nearby river through the medium of a banana plant, called the Kola Bou. The Kola Bou, bathed and draped in a new yellow saree, resembles a newly wed bride.
Kola Bou Snan | Early morning Saptami,Durga Puja,Kolkata
Woah ....lakhs of people(50+ photographers) at 6am in Judges Ghat ...
Durga Puja | Kolkata08.

Ashtami:-Ashtami is universally accepted as the culminating point of the four day celebrations. It was on this day that Durga had killed Mahishasura.

Anjali - The prayer to Devi | Selimpur Palli Puja
IMG_7620

The ritual of Sandhipuja marks Sandhikkhan, the juncture between Ashtami and Nabami. The main attraction of Nabami is the Maha-Arati held in the evening.


The Aarati being performed ...
Aarati | SaptamiCute Love | Maddox Square
The celebrity couple ...The "Just for Five Days" Puja Special Love story

The Magic of Maddox Square
Maddox Square | Saptami,Durga Puja08

Amidst the glitter and joy of that magical place known as Maddox Square.

Durga Bari - The traditional way
Durga Bari | Durga Puja,Kolkata08.>IMG_6819
Durga Puja | Kolkata 2008IMG_6779

Dashami :- After the visarjan, married women take part in the sindur khela, saluting the goddess with vermilion, betel leaf and sweets and then smearing each other with the same. It is (or used to be) a Bengali custom for married women to apply sindur on each other when one of them was leaving; the Devi is bid farewell the same way.

Bagbajar e Sindur Khela | Dashami,Kolkata08.

An hour @ Bagbajar Sarbojonin with 100+ photographers ..
Sindur Khela | Bagbajar,Dashami

"Asche Bochor Abar Hobe" means "Will wait for next year' ...

More pics will be added @ www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/sets/72157602643330971/

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