It is festival time right now in India and the clear, blue sky with the dreamy, floating white clouds and the recurring sound of the ‘dhaak’ in almost every corner of every street is symbolic of one of the most important and famous annual festivals, especially of the Bengali community of West Bengal, the DURGA PUJO. Spanning over 5 days, it marks the arrival of Goddess Durga to her father’s earthly abode and the resultant celebration of us mortals. Celebrated with unprecedented and unlimited pomp, these 5 days for the entire Bengali community and for others as well is one of joy, happiness, reunions, ecstasy and simply gorging on food and lazing around, going on continuous pandal hopping rounds with one’s mates and families.
Since India is a diversely populated country, around the same time as Durga Pujo, the non-Bengali community too celebrate the festival of Navratri, fasting and praying over nine days, until the final day of Navratri. Both them and the Bengalis end their festivities by celebrating Dusshera and Bijoy Dashami, respectively. Once Bijoy Dashami is over, the time arrives for the Bengalis to bid adieu to their ‘mother’ and amongst the hundreds of idol immersions, the one that takes place at the banks of the Icchemati River in Taki, is a sight to behold. Why? Well, since it’s the only place where right across the River, lies Bangladesh, one of India’s neighbor, whose Bengali community, too, gather at the same time to immerse their idols in the River, and one can see the exemplary display of brotherhood and cosmopolitan exchange between the people of both countries at this time.
One would be amazed to know that one of our other neighbors, Nepal, also celebrates this time of the year with great show and pomp. Known as ‘Dasai’ in Nepal, festivities continue for 10 long days. Celebrated under various names by the different communities of Nepal, Dasai is marked with several activities like kite flying, playing cards, buying new clothes, reuniting with one’s dear ones. Bamboo swings, called ‘ping’ are constructed reflecting the best of local tradition, culture and community spirit. A special tune, called the Malshree Dhun is heard during Dasai, signifying its arrival around this time, in the month of October. The festival in Nepal, too, marks the significance of the triumph of good over evil, and just like in India and Bangladesh, Nepal also celebrates the win of the all-powerful Mother Goddess over the evil Mahishashura, and the ultimate spread of prosperity and peace.
Both the festivals are celebrated over quite a number of days with glamour and glitz. Durga Pujo starts with Shosti, the day of the Goddess’ grand welcome to her earthly abode. After the ‘BODHON’ the actual Pujo begins. The eighth day, known as the Mahastami, is celebrated in an elaborate and grand fashion as it is believed that on this day, the Goddess could finally strike down the evil Mahishahsur and establish long lasting peace and prosperity.
The entire festival comes to an end with Bijay Dashami, a day marred with sadness and tears as we mortals bid adieu to our Mother, but, nonetheless waiting for yet another year when she will be back amongst us, for 5 fun-filled days. Prior to the ‘Bhashan’ or the idol immersion process, everyone gathers together to feed sweets to the Goddess, to each other and last but not least, engage enthusiastically in ‘sindoor khela’, smearing each others faces with red vermillion powder and red ‘aabir’, as well as in ‘dhunuchi naach’. With the final call of ‘aasche bochor abar hobe’(coming year this will again happen), the Goddess and her family of 4 is immersed in the Ganges.
In Nepal, too, all festivities continue for 10 days and Mahashtami, and Vijay Dasami is celebrated. On this day, a mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermillion is prepared, known as ‘tika’. The elders apply this tika on the forehead of the young ones to bless them for the future years. Reunions and meets to receive the ‘tika’ and exchange gifts continue for 5 more days, and the practice enhances community bonds to a great extent.
In the Bengali community and amongst the various other communities as well as in Nepal, right after the termination of the Durga Pujo and Dasai, there remains another Pujo which somewhat brings the festival season to a partial conclusion – the KOJAGORI/KOJAGRAT LAXMI PUJO. Goddess Laxmi is worshipped on the day of a full moon. ‘purnima’ in order to pray for the enhancement and sustainable wealth and prosperity of the household and its members.
The Indian and Nepalese community celebrates a lot of different festivals all throughout the year, but both Durga Pujo and the simultaneously happening Dasai remains the most important and awaited, a time to celebrate, reunite, prosper and have simple fun and share happiness with all others.
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