A Journey To Discover Life

10th November, 1908 Around late morning, a procession of lacs made their way through the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata), India. Some were chanting “Vande Mataram”, others blew conch shells, and Ululation filled the air. Flowers were being showered from all directions, and garlands made their way through the crowd, being thrown at the procession in the middle. Bhagwat Gita and Ananda Math (Novel by Bamkim Chandra) were offered. No, this was no “ Sobha Jatra ” or celebration. This were no religious festivities either. That dawn, the Alipore Jail, which opened only two years back, witnessed the hanging of Kanailal Dutta, a twenty-year-old member of the “Jugantar Dol”, an anarchist group that was set up primarily by Aurobindo Ghosh (Later Rishi Arabindo), his brother Barindra and their associates. Kanailal hailed from Chandannagore, and although he was not present in most of their meetings in Kolkata, he was still one of their early members from Chandannagore, then a French province.  “...

 This article is partly featured in The Statesman Festival 2024 Magazine. In Bengal, Durga Puja is not only a religious tradition, but it is also a festival. It is called “ Bangalir Shreshto Utsab ” or the greatest festival of Bengalis. It is because, although it started as a religious festival, as we have discussed in the previous blogs, it turned out to be a representation of cultural unity and the freedom movement, as well as seeing her as the daughter returning home with her children. It is called a " Sarbojonin " Utsab or a festival meant for all and sundry. Durga Puja is inclusive of caste, creed, religion, as well as gender identities and professions. Thus, it is more than just a Puja . The traditions, rituals and ways of Durga Puja are hence very different from Navratri, which are observed in individual homes. Let's find out how. The Pandals and idol: As per Hindu tradition,  four things are important when  the idol of Maa Durga is prepared. These include clay fro...

A lot of you have been asking me whether the traditions of Durga Puja are the same as those of Navratri, and have shown your interest in knowing about it. Trying to put up a series of blogs on the same topic, I came across a lot of information that I will address below. Is Durga Puja like Navratri? To start with, Durga Puja and Navratri are not one and the same. In Navratri, people worship the Navdurga (Nine aspects of Durga) while Durga Puja focuses on the Mahishashur Mardini or Slayer of Mahish Asura for four days. Durga Puja starts on Saptami and ends on Vijaya Dashami. Traditionally, it lasts for four days and not nine like the Navratris. The Durga Puja in October is also known as Okal Bodhon or “Worship during Unusual time” This is because usually, Mahishashur Mardini i s worshipped during spring when she is originally believed to have killed Mahishashur . However, with time, it evolved in Bengali culture and legends as Maa Durga returned “home” to her paternal house with her ch...