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DURGA PUJA: PART 3

Bonedi Barir Sabekiyana

A glimpse of Kolkata’s traditional household pujas

Kolkata, on its canvas, draws two different portraits of Durga puja, one being traditional and the other contemporary. As there is significant divergence in the style statement of north and south Kolkata, the puja is also not an exception. Pujas of north Kolkata showcase traditionality in every term, from rituals to fashion whereas south Kolkata pujas convey contemporality.      

In the documentation of Durga puja in Bengal, Kolkata’s household pujas is another important section which needs a significant emphasis. Pujas are performed according to bishuddho siddhanto mot (a specific ritualistic genre) with the touch of traditionality. Kanad Sanyal, an avid photographer from Kolkata has captured the instances of traditional household pujas which have more than 100 years of vintage essence. He covered thirty-seven houses out of shortlisted forty-two within twenty hours spread over three days. Let me take you to the journey of unravelling the nitty gritties of traditional household pujas of Kolkata through Kanad’s lens.

The following photograph depicts the courtyard of Ghosh family in Pathuriaghata Street where the puja is held. The thakur dalan (the courtyard where the idol is worshipped) is nicely decorated with two banana trees placed at the entrance, which is considered to be subho (good) in every Bengali occasion.  

Large panch khilan thakur dalan

 Khelat Ghosh family, 47 Pathuriaghata street, Kolkata

The deity inside the dalan

Khelat Ghosh family, 47 Pathuriaghata street, Kolkata

Noibeddyo, an integral part of any puja in Bengal is an elaborate offering to the goddess. It is prepared with rice at the centre of the plate and decorated with various fruits and vegetables.

Durga pujor ‘Noibeddyo’

Khelat Ghosh family, 47 Pathuriaghata street, Kolkata

Maa Durga or Mahisasurmardini (the form of Debi Durga killing Mahisasur with trishul) has been worshipped daily for more than 250 years in Halder family of Kali Prasad Chatterjee Street in Kolkata.

Mahisasurmardini established in Halder family

171, Kali Prasad Chatterjee Street, Kolkata

Mallick family in Darponarayan Tagore Street has celebrated 262 years of their puja in 2014.

Ek-chalar Thakur

Mr. and Mrs. Mallick in 32, Darponarayan Tagore Street, Kolkata

If one carefully observes the previous photograph (Darponarayan Street) and this following photo collage, it is found that Debi Durga is sitting on the lap of Lord Shiva (husband of Durga). This is definitely a rare posture of the goddesses where Shiva seems to be an adorable husband.

Of loves and romances: Debi Durga sitting on the lap of her husband Lord Shiva

Left: Dutta family, Hidaram Banerjee Street, Kolkata

Right: Laha family, Muktaram Babu Street, Kolkata

Sabeki thakur-dalan

 Saha family, 122A Maniktala Street, Kolkata

Maa Durga arrived in Saha paribar, Mr. Saha busy in final ornamentation

The idol worshipped in Dutta family of Bidhan Sarani, typically depicts a family visiting the in-law’s place. Lord Shiva leads his family with his wife and four children Lakhshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh.

Lord Shiva, an adorable husband and father

Dutta family, 3 Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata

As Maa Durga comes to the earthly abode, she is worshipped in multifarious forms during her stay. The most significant form of Durga is Kumari which is the virgin and the purest form of the goddess. Kumari form of Debi Durga depicts mahashakti which overpowers the evil forces and establishes peace and serenity on earth. Kumari puja is one of the most significant rituals in traditional household pujas. The girl, aged between one to sixteen symbolising the Kumari form of Durga is worshipped in front of the idol on nabami (fourth day of the festival). Here goes the Kumari puja ritual in Dawn family at Vivekananda road.

Little princess on the throne

Ritual of Kumari puja in Dawn family, 20B Vivekananda Road, Kolkata

Some moments of Kumari puja on Nabami

Dawn family, 20B Vivekananda Road, Kolkata

Sandhi puja, another integral part of Durga puja is performed at the juncture of ashtami (third day) and nabami (fourth day). Its duration starts from the last 24 minutes of ashtami and ends by the first 24 minutes of nabami. During this juncture or sandhikkhon, Durga is worshipped in the form of Chamunda as she killed the two asuras named Chando and Mundo at sandhikkhon. The main ingredients of sandhi puja are 108 lotuses and 108 lamps.

The lunar moment: Sandhi puja going on at the juncture of ashtami and nabami

Basu family, Kailash Basu Street, Kolkata

The photo documentation vividly illustrates the ‘Sabekiyana’ of the bonedi families of Kolkata in every means, from idols to rituals to attires of the family members. One thing to mention here, without which the definition or the essence of sabekiyana will be incomplete, is the eyes of the goddess. Every idol in each of the families has a specific shape of the eyes, which is popularly known as Jamini Roy style. Bengalis refer to these idols having this particular style of eyes as Sabeki protima. The following photograph portrays the eye style more explicitly.

Trinayan of Debi Durga, Jamini Roy style

Dawn family, 20B Vivekananda Road, Kolkata

Author’s Bio- Note:

Kanad Sanyal is an avid photographer based in West Bengal. He continuously tries to capture many stories of everyday life through his lens.