School days – Durga Puja and Bengalis

Durga Puja is the major festival of Bengalis and, over the years, it has undergone numerous changes. My memories of this festival goes back to the time when the number of Pujas were few and those who loved to go pandal hopping could do so with ease.

For me and my brothers, we would go with our father to the most famous pujas of the day – and these included the ones in Baghbazar, Beadon Street and the Calcutta Fire Brigade. These three were must-see ones in North Calcutta mostly because the idol makers of Kumortuli would invariably bring in variety and new themes in the idols and their presentations.
Once the Durga idol in Beadon Street remained unpainted and the postures of the idols gave an impression of frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Then Asura, the Demon King, was shown kneeling down in front of Goddess Durga begging for his life and Durga had one of her hands raised as if blessing Asura.
Of course, the festivals in those days relied on decorations in the pandals to attract the people unlike today when it is all about lighting.

And – all leading newspapers would have pages devoted to the Durga images from different locations and eager visitors would take decisions on which pandals to visit. (to be continued …)