27/06/2023
"দুর্গে দুর্গে মহাভাগে ত্রাহি মাং শঙ্করপ্রিয়ে"
Durge Durge Mahabhage Trahi Man Shankarpriye! - Oh Goddess Durga, the beloved of Lord Shankara, help us to sail through the sea of life.
Worship of the Supreme in the feminine form predates civilization itself. Bengal has held on to this prehistoric form of worship through aeons, and in modern times this tradition culminates into what we see as Durga Pujo. 'Sharat kal' with its clear blue skies and dense white clouds, blossoming 'kash phul' and a bed of misty 'shiuli' on the ground, beacons the advent of Durga. Durga Pujo brings together cultures, amalgamates traditions, unites people, and provides the much necessary spiritual relief along with a mystically divine encounter. Modern-day rituals of the religious worship are a composite of the centuries aged Vedic, Pouranic and Tantrik philosophies and practices. Folklore, totems, too have got imbibed in the magnificence of Durgo-utsava! In Bengal, Uma is considered to be the married daughter who pays her annual visit to her paternal home. This essentially blurrs all boundaries between mortal humans and the divine superlative, emphasizing the Upanishadic Mahavakya, "जिवो ब्रह्मैव न परः" (Jivo Brahmaiva na ParaH).
Durga Pujo at our household started in the year 2005 as mere child's play. Little did anyone know that it would gain momentum in the coming years to grow big. Ritualistic Polytheist Idol worship wasn't the norm of our Bhramho family, yet everyone participated with enthusiasm. Barring two years of gap, the annual worship has been almost a continuous affair. In 2022, the puja-bells rang for the 16th year. With a highly supportive family and wonderful batch of friends, the Pujo at present has taken a beautiful form. I particularly have not been much into publicizing this event. However, on the constant urging of my friends, I finally took the leap to create a social media page to document and celebrate the Pujo. So here we are, with page, and you can follow on Instagram, too.
