Durga Pujo celebrations in New Delhi; smitten by West Bengal touch
As Durga Pujo celebrations winded up, the ecstasy built around it was not to be missed. There was a look of ecstasy and eagerness on whomever i came across. Pandal-hopping apart the long and winding interactions here and there and lavish spread of Bhog was something that would remain etched in our memory for a long time to come.
Beginning with Katyayani Temple in Chattarpur in Delhi the prayer on your lips and the unyielding commitment to sight the Goddess got you to a stage where everything looked blessed and blissful. The Metro ride could get you there and a walk from metro station to the temple wasn't as hard as one assumed. The first day of the Durga Pujo, the rush was less and intimacy built up with a finesse not much seen around the national capital of Delhi. Sixth day and with all prepared to step out i visited Jhandewalan Temple in Central Delhi. Cacophony of voices greeted you as one went past the metro station and cool and calm was the ambience as one stepped inside the temple. It sends good vibes for the duration you are inside the temple.
Once outside the same hullabaloo greet you with the same palpable tension and unfolding commitment that's largely built around one's day itinerary to finish different assignments. Next on the list was Kali Bari in Mandir Marg. There were many with roots in State of West Bengal and some from State of Bihar all true to the task of offering pushpanjali (offering flowers to the goddess accompanied with slokas). Three times one has to go through this routine before it is replaced by a new set of crowd who follow the same format. The young birds were dressed up for the occasion and a word of praise for those who stepped out in yellow outfit and the two who took a seat in the vicinity and conversing in Bangla which was least audible. It was the seventh day of the Durga Pujo and there were enough occasions to cheer the way the Goddess looked, making you believe that there would be enough rounds when you would be face to face with clay made magnificent idols.
Time was approaching fast for Bhog to start and sometime around 1 pm the people began to queue up and it did not take long for devotees to get seated and satiate their Bhog cravings. The Bhog comprised of Khichdi (made from rice), vegetable, chutney and kheer. I was lucky enough to be in the first lot.
On the eight day which was Ashtami i visited Kali Bari in Safdarjung Enclave. The clay prepared idols looked as magnificent/imposing as ever. The pandal was brimming with people hailing from West Bengal at present staying in Delhi and my inability to converse in Bangla couldn't get a large number of new acquaintances. Came across a student who had come with his mother, there was another school student Sangeeta Majhi who studied in a Bengali School in Sarojini Nagar. Bhog distribution started well after 2 pm and here the offering comprised of pulao (made from rice), two vegetable, veg chop, halua and a sweet. The offering was elaborate and sentiment upbeat. Post Bhog it was more appropriate to walk all the way to my place.
On the 9th day of Pujo i visited Kali Bari Mandir Marg and Kali Bari Safdarjung Enclave. Immersion of idols took place on the 10th day with the wait for this festival almost a year away. Once a year event this Pujo is a must-watch one with those in attendance radiating bonhomie round the year. The idols made from clay look as resplendent as ever.
There was Mr I Mukherjee who had come with his family all the way from Kolkata making a noting of Chittaranjan Avenue where i have stayed on numerous occasions; this area in Kolkata falling between Esplanade and Shyam Bazar. Though Durga Pujo celebrations is essentially East India centric (West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha) one gets smitten by Delhi touch when people from these states congregate under one roof and celebrate with renewed flourish.
As Durga Pujo celebrations winded up, the ecstasy built around it was not to be missed. There was a look of ecstasy and eagerness on whomever i came across. Pandal-hopping apart the long and winding interactions here and there and lavish spread of Bhog was something that would remain etched in our memory for a long time to come.
Beginning with Katyayani Temple in Chattarpur in Delhi the prayer on your lips and the unyielding commitment to sight the Goddess got you to a stage where everything looked blessed and blissful. The Metro ride could get you there and a walk from metro station to the temple wasn't as hard as one assumed. The first day of the Durga Pujo, the rush was less and intimacy built up with a finesse not much seen around the national capital of Delhi. Sixth day and with all prepared to step out i visited Jhandewalan Temple in Central Delhi. Cacophony of voices greeted you as one went past the metro station and cool and calm was the ambience as one stepped inside the temple. It sends good vibes for the duration you are inside the temple.
Once outside the same hullabaloo greet you with the same palpable tension and unfolding commitment that's largely built around one's day itinerary to finish different assignments. Next on the list was Kali Bari in Mandir Marg. There were many with roots in State of West Bengal and some from State of Bihar all true to the task of offering pushpanjali (offering flowers to the goddess accompanied with slokas). Three times one has to go through this routine before it is replaced by a new set of crowd who follow the same format. The young birds were dressed up for the occasion and a word of praise for those who stepped out in yellow outfit and the two who took a seat in the vicinity and conversing in Bangla which was least audible. It was the seventh day of the Durga Pujo and there were enough occasions to cheer the way the Goddess looked, making you believe that there would be enough rounds when you would be face to face with clay made magnificent idols.
Time was approaching fast for Bhog to start and sometime around 1 pm the people began to queue up and it did not take long for devotees to get seated and satiate their Bhog cravings. The Bhog comprised of Khichdi (made from rice), vegetable, chutney and kheer. I was lucky enough to be in the first lot.
On the eight day which was Ashtami i visited Kali Bari in Safdarjung Enclave. The clay prepared idols looked as magnificent/imposing as ever. The pandal was brimming with people hailing from West Bengal at present staying in Delhi and my inability to converse in Bangla couldn't get a large number of new acquaintances. Came across a student who had come with his mother, there was another school student Sangeeta Majhi who studied in a Bengali School in Sarojini Nagar. Bhog distribution started well after 2 pm and here the offering comprised of pulao (made from rice), two vegetable, veg chop, halua and a sweet. The offering was elaborate and sentiment upbeat. Post Bhog it was more appropriate to walk all the way to my place.
On the 9th day of Pujo i visited Kali Bari Mandir Marg and Kali Bari Safdarjung Enclave. Immersion of idols took place on the 10th day with the wait for this festival almost a year away. Once a year event this Pujo is a must-watch one with those in attendance radiating bonhomie round the year. The idols made from clay look as resplendent as ever.
There was Mr I Mukherjee who had come with his family all the way from Kolkata making a noting of Chittaranjan Avenue where i have stayed on numerous occasions; this area in Kolkata falling between Esplanade and Shyam Bazar. Though Durga Pujo celebrations is essentially East India centric (West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha) one gets smitten by Delhi touch when people from these states congregate under one roof and celebrate with renewed flourish.
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