Hmm…The Pujas! Long-awaited and longed for. In spite of the incessant rain the nature has not forgotten to fill the fields with the whiteness of Kaash flowers.The statues of Mother Goddess are being prepared in full glory at the cool shades of the artisans. The Pujas bring unmatched joy to the Bengalis. The economy of Rural Bengal depends on it to a large extent. From the boy plucking Lotuses from the lush ponds to the artisans of every nook n corner to decorators….this event supports an intricate structure of culture, religion and money. And now, audio-visual media has spawned a whole new economic whirlwind. The role of the festivities in the urban consumerism is starkly evident as we switch on our respective TV sets. You may be the Bengali who likes the crowds of the midnight of Ashtami or you may belong to the hatke Harry group who like the silence of the hillside, away from the din n bustle…none can avoid The Pujas.
picture source: J.K. TIWARI (picasa)
Durga Puja is meant to be celebrated in Spring with the advent of Palash flower. The Sharadiya puja was started, as par the tradition, by Ramchandra, to invoke the blessings of the Goddess before he took on Ravana. However, if we go through Valmiki Ramayana, we see that Lord Ram did not worship the Goddess in any Akalbodhana (untimely prayer). Perhaps Shri Ram meant so much to the average devotee that a legend was started to give authenticity to the Pujas of Autumn. Actually, historically speaking, we find the first mention of Sharadiya Durgapuja in Bengal in the times of Raja Kansanarayan in the middle ages. It was he who started the festival which continues still date. There are basically two types of Pujas…The family-Pujas and the Pujas organized by the common people, mostly clubs.We find interesting snippets of the baro-yaari(of twelve friends) Pujas (The pujas conducted by the common people) in Hutom Pyanchar Naksha by Kaliprasanna Singha and which, astonishingly, remains true to nature till date.
It’s a happy time to celebrate female beauty too. The goddess Durga is the embodiment of the most beautiful woman in the world. And…sigh! The way she prepares for war! The whole procedure can give the prominent beauticians a run for their money. But she is a fair, Nordic beauty. But here there is no scope to cry foul as far as apartheid goes.There is Ma Lakshmi with her fairness of the tip of rice-stalk. ….And –Mother- Kali! Who is more beautiful than this Shyama …The Dark, The Swarthy, The blue….The Goddess of Bengal’s soul?
In Bengal, The Pujas starts with Mahalaya (the end of pitripaksha) and ends with Kalipuja. The most interesting socio-religious point about this month-long celebrations is that be it Durga, Lakshmi or goddess Kali, a female or Mother-goddess is worshipped. The male-gods are there, but mostly as companions to the Goddesses. They play second fiddle to the female goddess. The Mother rules. This phenomenon may explain the basic nature of the Shakti-worshipping Bengali psycho. The average Bengali may or may not respect women in general, but in times of need and prayer, they turn to take shelter in woman-power. So, come The Pujas, its Power to women? What say?
About the Author-
Anuja Bagchi is presently engaged as University Research Fellow at Department of Mass Communication, University of Burdwan. She has expertise both in the field of mass communication and law and has widely commented on a range of topics.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.
