Durga পূজো
The sweet breeze of autumn brings forth with it the season of celebration in the Bengali heart as the East Indian state eagerly awaits the homecoming of Goddess Durga.
Since the late 18th century, Durga Puja was a mark of status for the Bengali mercantile class before gradually becoming integral to the nationalism project to evoke the spirit of patriotic awakening among the sons of Bengal.
In recent years,a lot of scholarly attention has been turned towards explaining the non-Vedic roots of Goddess Durga.
By the 17th and 18th centuries, as the Nawab in Bengal broke ties with the Mughal rulers, a class of Hindu zamindars arose in the region. This class of Hindu landowners became little rajas in their own right, controlling vast territories and exercising huge amount of control over their subjects. The local authority, however, was not always rewarded with adequate political power, which still lay in the hands of the Nawab.
After 1757, when the English won Battle of Plassey and took control over Bengal, the political affiliation of the zamindars underwent a further shift.
In this milieu of shifting and fluid political affiliations, there was perhaps a need for the zamindars to assert and display political authority, financial stability and administrative control over the ruled. The ostentatious celebration of Durga Puja helped the zamindars in asserting their influence in an era of drastic political and social change in Bengal.
Bonedi বাড়ির পূজো
Sabarna Ray Choudhury Family
(সাবর্ণ রায় চৌধুরী বাড়ি)
It was from this family that the English East India Company acquired the three villages of Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kalkata in the 17th century to later consolidate it into what became known as Calcutta (now Kolkata). The family has branched out since, each branch with their own Durga Puja celebrations. But the one most famous is the family’s Atchala Pujo dating back to 1610.
This Pujo because it’s said to be the oldest in the city! Located in Barisha, in the southern part of the city, the Pujo is held in the ‘Durga dalan’ with two rows of graceful columns marking the boundary.
Raja Nabakrisha Deb Family
(রাজকৃষ্ণ দেব বাড়ি)
The Durga Puja celebrations at Sovabazar Rajbari is centuries old. The Deb family Durga Puja became the talk of the society (Calcutta was yet to be founded) when Raja Nabkrishna Deb feted Robert Clive and other officers of the English East India Company in 1757. It was the first time that non-Hindus were allowed to see a typically Hindu household celebration from the ‘nach ghor’ or dancing room situated along the building’s exterior as non-Hindus were not allowed to see the thakur dalan or the interiors. This Pujo has very interesting distinctive features, for example, the lion has the face of a horse.
Badan Chandra Roy Family
(বদন চন্দ্র রায় বাড়ি)
The homestead of the Badan Chandra Roy family in Colootola (Central Kolkata), belies the dinginess that surrounds it. One of the best kept residences of old Kolkata, it still houses the descendants. The sprawling Eye Department of the Medical College in College Street stands on land donated by this family. The arched ‘thakur dalan’, where the 160 year-old Pujo is held, is fronted by a beautiful quadrangle marked by pillars topped by decorative lamps.
Purnendu Chandra Dhar Family
(পূর্ণেন্দু চন্দ্র রায় বাড়ি)
Not far from the Badan Chandra Roy family home is the house of Purnendu Chandra Dhar’s family. This Vaishnav household does not worship Maa Durga in her demon-slaying pose. Instead, she is worshipped here as Abhaya Ma. The seated idol has two hands instead of ten. At her feet are two seated lions. Maa is surrounded by her children and her hand maidens. The Pujo is 157 years old in all but was not performed in this building for a while when the building was ransacked during the 1946 riots and the family had to seek shelter elsewhere.
Khelat Chandra Ghosh Family
(খেলাৎ চন্দ্র ঘোষ বাড়ি)
When the British acquired the Gobindapur village for construction of the Fort William in 1758 (after Battle of Plassey), the natives were compensated with land in Sutanuti. Pathuriaghata was one such locality where several of the elite Bengali families shifted from Gobindapur. Today Pathuriaghata is a locality in North Kolkata, lined with mansions built by rich Bengalis in the 18th and 19th century. The Ghosh Family is one such aristocratic family of Pathuriaghata.The Durga Puja was started in 1846 by Babu Khelat Chandra Ghosh (বাবু খেলাৎ চন্দ্র ঘোষ) in his newly built Pathuriaghata Palace at 47 Pathuriaghata Street. He was grand son of Ramlochan Ghosh, the dewan of Warren Hastings.The entire puja of this bonedi family is dominated by silver! Single frame (একচালা) idol is decorated with silver decorations (ডাকের সাজ) and is seated on a Shinghasana covered in Silver foil. Behind the idol is a three peak silver coloured ‘Mathchouri chali’ (মঠচৌরি চালি). Puja is performed with silver utensils. The lion here looks like a horse (ঘোটক সিংহ). This puja was once attended by the most notable people of ‘Calcutta’, including Ramakrishna Paramhansa.The idol is carried in two boats till mid river, and then the boats move away.
Shibkrishna Daw Family
(শিবকৃষ্ণ ডঁ বাড়ি)
Located near the (now-infamous!) Vivekananda Road flyover in Jorasanko in North Kolkata, the Shibkrishna Daw house has been maintained beautifully and has been used for many film shoots. The household Pujo was started by Shibkrishna Daw’s father in 1840 but it was the successful businessman son who added the glitz and glamour to the celebration. The ‘thakur dalan’ sits pretty overlooking neat columns and overhanging balconies. You should visit this Pujo because people come to see the attire and the gorgeous gold and silver ornaments of the idols
Chandra Family
(চন্দ্র বাড়ি)
It was Subal Chand Chandra who began Durga Puja at his Jorasanko home way back in 1761. But then the family shifted to their Jhamapukur home and continued with the tradition from 1840. The idol is very different from the one usually seen in other Pujos. Goddess Durga sits on the lap of her husband Shiva in the ‘borabhoi mudra’ (assurance-giving pose).
Rani Rashmoni Family
(জানবাজার রাজবাড়ি)
Located in Janbazar in Central Kolkata, not far from the Esplanade Metro Station, is the home of Rani Rashmoni built in the 19 th century. It was she who founded the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. After her death, the Pujo has been continued by the families of her daughters. Now divided into two parts, the Durga Puja that can be approached through the Free School Street entry of the house was started by the Rani herself.
Nilmani Sen Family
(নীলমণি সেন বাড়ি)
Gold Merchant Nilmoni Sen came to Calcutta from Jessore during the beginning of 19th century at Jakeria Street. He celebrated Durgapuja there. Kanailal Sen , grandson of Nilmoni Sen accquired a Thakurdalan at 130 BK Road. He started Durga Puja from 1913. The three arched thakurdalan is decorated with floral design. However since the whole Thakurdalan has been whitewashed, it is difficult to identify the minute details. Nilmoni Sen’s house Worship Abhaya Durga. In Abahya Murti Devi Durga has three Eyes but only with two hands instead of 10. One hand is in Abhaya mudra and the other is in Varada Mudra.
And this is not the ending, the list continues....
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