Durga Pujo is one of the most popular festival among bengalis. The festival which is celebrated for 5 days is no longer isolated to the state of West Bengal in India but has spread across multiple cities withi India. Bengalis have taken this well loved festival wherever they have settled down. Outside India also this festival is celebrated with enthusiasm by the non-resident bengalis ... may it be USA or Canada.
But the festival is seen best in the city of Kolkata. All schools and colleges have a month long holiday to celebrate the festival and generally even professionals with high pressure jobs take it a little easy in this festive month. It is best experienced and best viewed on foot going from one pandaal to another and standing in long queues to have a look at the protima (diety). Inspite of a common rituals that are performed in the various pandaals that dot the city, there is a very sharp divide between the Pujo of North Kolkata and South Kolkata.
North Kolkata is more conservative, more tarditional and more inclined towards artwork. The love and dedication with which the artisans build the protima and pandaal shows. While in South Kolkata, wealth and power speak in the form of expensive pandaals, commericialisation of the pujo, the 'vesh-bhusha' of the protima.
This is a typical pandaal and Durga protima that can be found in North Kolkata..... pure artwork.
But the festival is seen best in the city of Kolkata. All schools and colleges have a month long holiday to celebrate the festival and generally even professionals with high pressure jobs take it a little easy in this festive month. It is best experienced and best viewed on foot going from one pandaal to another and standing in long queues to have a look at the protima (diety). Inspite of a common rituals that are performed in the various pandaals that dot the city, there is a very sharp divide between the Pujo of North Kolkata and South Kolkata.
North Kolkata is more conservative, more tarditional and more inclined towards artwork. The love and dedication with which the artisans build the protima and pandaal shows. While in South Kolkata, wealth and power speak in the form of expensive pandaals, commericialisation of the pujo, the 'vesh-bhusha' of the protima.
This is a typical pandaal and Durga protima that can be found in North Kolkata..... pure artwork.
And this is a typical pandaal and Durga protima that can be found in South Kolkata......
A trend of attracting visitors and winning prizes in a city wide contest has started among the South Kolkata Pujo. They often boast of traditional dances being performed live. Like the one below - the Saunthaal dance is being performed in Moodi Ali pandaal. The ambience for the dance was given by the decorations on the wall.
Another trend that has started is that of commercialisation of pujo. Major brands put up their stalls around the pujo pandaal to promote their products and generate awareness among the visitors. Present among these stalls are also stalls selling bottled water and typical bengali food. Things like this lessen the gap between the pujo culture as is seen in cities like Delhi and pujo culture as is seen in Kolkata.
And as long as the festivities in the city are going on.... the Kolkata Police are alert and vigilant ensuring the security and the safety of the people of Kolkata... performing their duties tirelessly in the festive season... even when the entire city is celebrating....
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