Durga Puja '09 @ Kolkata - A Photo Blog

After Last Year's Durga Puja Photo Series , the series returns again for 2009 Kolkata.Though Durga Puja is filled mainly with highly decorated Pandals & designer idols,I tried to capture the traditional rituals in my own little way.Here it comes:-

See buses, autos, matadors, taxis and even trains spruced up, bedecked with garlands and banana stems, and you know the Pujas are near.
The feeling is even more acute this year, with Vishwakarma Puja being just a day before Mahalaya. I have landed in Kolkata just a day after Mahalaya.The Akash Photography followed the festive feel, from Kumartuli’s lanes to Kolkata’s Pandal's - Anywhere and Everywhere.

The Puja Feel :- Really ? Reality ?

In English the text in Bengali: With the arrival of God,let your days of Puja be filled with joy & happiness.

The Last Finishing Touch


Starts with Shashti

Maddox Square ..The School / College World of Kolkata EATS,BREATHES,SLEEPS on Maddox Square during Durga Puja...you will get all your friends here.
Maddox Square @ evening...If you are not in Maddox,you are not in Kolkata.



There was a Dhunuchi Naach Competition going on ..

Runner Up - Dhunuchi Naach Winner - Dhunuchi Naach

Sapatami is here
"The rain god seems to have decided to play spoilsport. Dark clouds pelted rain again on Saptami afternoon, sending Puja revellers scurrying. But the unbridled excitement accompanying the Pujas refused to give in to the sudden cloudbursts. Certainly, not without a fight. Buses, taxis, autos, rickshaws fought for space with people creating traffic snarls unknown to even rush hour policemen." Somehow I reached Judges Ghat for Kola Bou Snan.




The Maha-Ashtami
Kumari Puja :- A girl aged between one to sixteen, symbolising the Kumari form of Devi is worshipped in front of the idol of Goddess Durga. The Kumari form of the Goddess was emphasised as the most dynamic form by the devotees since yester years as Kumari Shakti is the basis of all creations.



Ashtami means you have to(just have to) go to Durga Bari,South Kolkata,Opp of South Point High School...the most famous place of South Calcutta( Yaa..I prefer Calcutta sometimes over Kolkata)..you have to be there to enjoy the festive mood among everyone ..all NRI/old-timers will meet here and dance to the tune of dhak...



The Babubagan Traditional Puja:-


Nabami - Nearing Climax
The day for Pandal Hopping -" Time flew and Nabami, the penultimate day of the Pujas, seemed to have arrived a tad too soon. Festive crowds determined to complete their annual pandal pilgrimage girded themselves for the inevitable jostle. Babas hauled khukis onto their shoulders, Mas clutched the hands of their sons and thakurmas, sindoor glistening in the parting of their silver hair, tried to keep up during the pandal expedition."




Curtains descend on Dashami
The day full of Photography:- Four days of untrimmed enjoyment and weeks of anticipation had to come to an end when Dashami beckoned on Monday. But after days of festivities, the mood was still upbeat with cries of ‘Aashche bochor abar hobe’ and ‘Shubho Bijoya’ filling the air. Camera in hand, I was there to capture the festive spirit on the final day of Durga Puja 2009.

Moments from Baghbajar Sarbojonin Durgotsav,Baghbajar.









Last year,my biggest regret was to not able to capture Bhasan.While the goddess was readied for immersion, sindur khela tinged the proceedings with vermilion and bhashan processions swayed to the beat of the dhaks. It was a bittersweet farewell watching the goddess being lowered into the Ganga.




Hope You enjoy the pics ..until next year ..."Asche Bochor Abar Hobe" means "Will wait for next year' ...


More pics are here :-
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/sets/72157602643330971/][http://www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/sets/72157602641481653/]


Follow me in : FaceBook | Twitter All Rights Reserved.
2009 © Akash Bhattacharya Photography

Adi - The Next Badshah of Bollywood

Slideshow :-


All the shots @ Kolkata,2009.

The upcoming model - Adi,my brother-in-law
Contact: Debaditya( Mobile: 9987041257) for assignments.

Upcoming photographer - Me ??

Pictures here :-
Akash Bhattacharya Photography at www.flickr.com/photos/akashb
FaceBook | Twitter All Rights Reserved.
2009 © Akash Bhattacharya Photography

RED - KPC Contest - Till 18 Oct,2009.

"RED" - KPC Contest - till 11th Oct 2009 (updated: 18th Oct 2009).
The theme for this photo contest is RED.

Few pointers from the Judge :-

1. The color red in Durga Puja..its Puja time in Bengal !
2. Communist ??!!
3. RED in your life
4. Think Out of the box.


Rough Guide for the contest:-

1. The photographer is allowed to submit max two picture for the contest. Just post the link of your photo (orkut/flickr/usefilm/pbase/etc link) by replying to this thread.

2. The photographer is encouraged to shoot a new picture during the contest period and submit here. If not, the photographer can submit an old picture.

3. The picture will be judjed based on the following.
a. The aesthetics.
b. The composition
c. The choice of subject.
d. The technical correctness

4. The last date for all entries will be Sunday, October 11th, '09 - 11.59PM.

5. Learn ! Game on !

Entries till 12 Oct 2009 ( 10:50PM)

1.
http://www.usefilm.com/image/1533933.html

2.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16445328@N02/3928174023/

3.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsarkar/3451554757/

4.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avikb/3952122503/

5.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1547103

6.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ushwaia/3955660356/

7.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15986745939132170681&pid=1253983217609&aid=1253956967$pid=1253983217609

8.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=10087579272309341155&pid=1252680761604&aid=1252645336$pid=1252790166247

9.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17835919105118205118&pid=1254040924372&aid=1$pid=1254040924372

10.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33699860@N03/3941736037/

11.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1547507

12.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15447609738618522955&pid=1242504617315&aid=1$pid=1242504617315

13.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1487426

14.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1468290

15.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanayesh/2264182253/

16.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanayesh/3966566560/

17.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=5972637870793141710&pid=1253040829404&aid=1253015163$pid=1253040829404

18.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15028717120416630954&pid=1215346771511&aid=1212451768$pid=1215346771511

19.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17453237839181783590&pid=1240201477740&aid=1240176154$pid=1240201477740

20.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=10262877863684414390&pid=1254309457786&aid=1254161507&p=1$pid=1254309040590

21.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1547433

22.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16445328@N02/3970480404/

23.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=18182937797734565282&pid=1254385675584&aid=1254360429$pid=1254385675584

24.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15319383309280325234&pid=1251570645876&aid=1251536269$pid=1251570645876

25.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17453237839181783590&aid=1254399536&pid=1254424796705$pid=1254424796705

26.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=12029299137295253381&pid=1254131511389&aid=1254106240$pid=1254131511389

27.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=12029299137295253381&pid=1254131549796&aid=1254106240$pid=1254131549796

28.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39075018@N07/3973243443/in/photostream/

29.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=1483107591

30.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=2562652225

31.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39075018@N07/3973241751/in/photostream/

32.
http://www.usefilm.com/image/1548125.html

33.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=12239552973852358591&pid=1254137425949&aid=1254111730$pid=1254137425949

34.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=12239552973852358591&pid=1254462313809&aid=1249028448$pid=1254462313809

34.
http://www.usefilm.com/image/1548300.html

35.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momentsoflife/3115582715/in/photostream/

36.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=13741911670647687430&pid=1254203893016&aid=1254178334$pid=1254203893016

37.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=13741911670647687430&pid=1230575060069&aid=1230546552$pid=1230575060069

38.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/27460712

39.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=6028879522705202496&pid=1232984922770&aid=1232959647$pid=1232984922770

40.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=2703354333&posted=1

41.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=7813909583112795284&pid=1254820702177&aid=1230610476$pid=1254820702177

42.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=7813909583112795284&pid=1254828672573&aid=1230517510$pid=1254828672573

43.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?rl=pc&uid=15777507355718256279&aid=1248292706&pid=1254742984258

44.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17200552718925691416&pid=1254580339820&aid=1253234628$pid=1254580339820

45.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17200552718925691416&pid=1252419977822&aid=1230900097$pid=1252419977822

46.
http://picasaweb.google.com/aindrilaghosh79/Desktop#5389995667560814770

47.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabusviewfinder/2881654056/in/set-72157607487121885/

48.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabusviewfinder/2937980414/

49.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=16179653734405649412&pid=1254229987574&aid=1254204558$pid=1254229987574

50.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=16179653734405649412&pid=1254229802470&aid=1254204558$pid=1254229802470

51.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/3995021519/

52.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=18182937797734565282&pid=1255107835038&aid=1254360429$pid=1255107835038

53.
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/aparajitac21/Red#5390471759815151522

54.
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/aparajitac21/Red#5390472385262270994

55.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abhijit_jabberwocky/3996415512/

56.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zzigguratzz/538700196/

57.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=9348115920493947742&pid=1250820398658&aid=1250761474$pid=1250820398658

58.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=9348115920493947742&pid=1255021916416&aid=1254993425

59.
http://www.usefilm.com/image/1549518.html

60.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3244356580&size=large

61.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=4585935954703224090&pid=1255234929900&aid=1$pid=1255234929900

62.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=7975392842591862753&pid=1255244843626&aid=1$pid=1255244843626

63.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3999854173

64.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17835919105118205118&pid=1255273378987&aid=1$pid=1255273378987

65.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4000809227

66.
http://picasaweb.google.com/aindrilaghosh79/OnlineEdits#5391472634279323906

67.
http://www.bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4004895485&posted=1

68.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4004225360

69.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15986745939132170681&pid=1254865008536&aid=1240121330$pid=1254865008536

70.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2kun/2913790315/

71.
http://www.debasishaich.com/photos/331073672_qJxks-X3.jpg

72.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1493749

73.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1451692

74.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8908194@N06/4006321175/

75.
http://www.bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4010655970&posted=1

76.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1526981

77.
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1550160

78.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/4009865359/

79.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rajesh_b/4012503740/in/photostream/

80.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=2701652891998857484&pid=1255520334055&aid=1255494652$pid=1255520334055

81.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4007500559

82.
http://www.bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3323591694&size=large&posted=1

83.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abhijit_jabberwocky/4017801164/in/photostream/

84.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29228312@N02/4018954136/

85.
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4019230365&size=large

86.
http://www.bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4019151451&size=large

87.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=5972637870793141710&pid=1225734566533&aid=1203069584$pid=1225734566533

88.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17200552718925691416&pid=1255356846885&aid=1254901480$pid=1255356846885

89.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17200552718925691416&pid=1252419977822&aid=1230900097$pid=1252419977822

90.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=4585935954703224090&pid=1255856365117&aid=1255830983

91.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=572467935306584627&pid=1255859104098&aid=1242043568$pid=1255859104098

92.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=572467935306584627&pid=1255859104098&aid=1242043568$pid=1255859220582

93.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=4585935954703224090&pid=1255873601609&aid=1235630350$pid=1255873601609

94.
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=10956251413775529570&pid=1255879114674&aid=1$pid=1255879114674

Thanks all for submitting entries.


Results:-
First things first...
1. IM SORRY FOR THE DELAY.
2. From next time... send me only the images and not link.
3. The images given below are not visible to me.. 26. 27. 46. 57.
4. The TOP 20.. (NOT IN ORDER) is here... These images were chosen cos, they are striking RED to the face. There are so many interesting pictures submitted here, but had to leave them, cos few are little away from the TOPIC. Few intrepretations are difficult to make out.. few are not coming out to be red... So... these images here.. were special, on some angles / perspectives...

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=10087579272309341155&pid=1252680761604&aid=1252645336$pid=1252790166247
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15447609738618522955&pid=1242504617315&aid=1$pid=1242504617315
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1468290
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15028717120416630954&pid=1215346771511&aid=1212451768$pid=1215346771511
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17453237839181783590&pid=1240201477740&aid=1240176154$pid=1240201477740
http://www.usefilm.com/Image.asp?ID=1547433
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=15319383309280325234&pid=1251570645876&aid=1251536269$pid=1251570645876
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=17453237839181783590&aid=1254399536&pid=1254424796705$pid=1254424796705
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39075018@N07/3973243443/in/photostream/
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=12239552973852358591&pid=1254137425949&aid=1254111730$pid=1254137425949
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=2703354333&posted=1
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/aparajitac21/Red#5390472385262270994
http://www.usefilm.com/image/1549518.html
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3244356580&size=large
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4000809227
http://www.bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4004895485&posted=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akashb/4009865359/
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=2701652891998857484&pid=1255520334055&aid=1255494652$pid=1255520334055
http://www.bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3323591694&size=large&posted=1
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#AlbumZoom?uid=5972637870793141710&pid=1225734566533&aid=1203069584$pid=1225734566533

The final results will be announced tomo night or saturday. All the BEST for Final 8 (3 winners and 5 mentions)