DURGA PUJO
ammohinee Ghosh
F or Bengalis, the arrival of Maa Durga with her four children — Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartika, is about welcoming the daughter home. The primordial creator of the universe is prayed to, but not quite as a religious symbol beyond human acuity. Durga Pujo, is an emotion interlaced with rituals born of tender attachment. Here, we discuss some of the synergistic practices of the four-day-long revelries.
Kola bou or the banana bride: On Maha Saptami ,a banana tree is dipped in Ganga at the crack of dawn. After this ceremonial bath, a white and red sari is draped around it. Kola bou is placed to the right of Ganesha, and is adorned with vermilion and andalwood paste.
108 lotus flowers and 108 diyas: As Ashtami paves the way for Navami, the Devi assumes the form of Chamunda to overpower and kill the demons, Chanda and Mundo. The transition of the eighth day to the ninth day is crucial and summarised in a Sandhi Pujo. Sandhi means confluence or juncture in Bengali. It is during this performance that 108 lotuses and 108 earthen lit lamps are offered to the Devi. “Myth has it that Rama offered 108 blue lotuses to Durga to be able to defeat Ravana,” says Saheli Paul from Ballygunge, Kolkata, who was brought up on many such tales. While he was praying with his eyes closed, Lord Shiva hid one of the flowers. When Rama noticed, he decided to offer one of his lotus-shaped blue eyes to the goddess to not fall short of the magical number. Paul shares that reminiscing these stories helps her relive her ancestral pujo.
Goat sacrifice: The uncomfortable legacy of sacrificing a living being is still practised in many parts of
Bengal, Odisha and Assam. Many even offer a pair of goats or jora pnatha to the goddess. Even if the sacrifice isn’t performed and staged, Maha Navami is a day to feast on goat meat. As Kabita Seal, a Delhi-based Bengali says, “We can’t think of pujo without mangsho (meat) curries”.
Sindur Khela: The last day or Dashami bids adieu to Maa Durga in the hopes of having the daughter back in her childhood home next year. Women irrespective of their age, background and marital status play with vermilion. Bijaya Dashami celebrates the victory of truth over evil, the victory of Devi Shakti over evil demons Shumbh and Nishumbh. Tata RC, misses the fervour in West Bengal in her Maryland neighbourhood. She says, “Whenever I am able to go back to Kolkata during pujos, I feel as if the Devi has accompanied me on my journey. Dhunuchi naach is something I love. I twirl with complete joy to the beats of the dhaak.”
Conch shell bangles, vermilion and the red dye symbolise a happy married life, but more so, fulfillment
The smell close to that of frankincense and myrrh is a must in pujos. Coconut fibre is used to light the incense
The food of the gods indeed! This melange of vegetables, fragrant rice and moong dal and some grated coconut can soothe one’s soul
Joyful ululation or resounding hooting is done to ward off evil spirits and to hail the spirit of lasting prosperity.