As the sun and the rain played hide and seek, a slice of Bengali culture and tradition played out in Chennai as puja celebrations got underway. The spirit of the four-day mega affair could not be marred by the mud and the slush, as devotees, mostly Bengalis, thronged the pandals, eager to make the most of these few days. In a home away from home, they tried to recreate and spin the magic of pujo and they definitely did so in grandeur and style.
Starting from pushpanjali to bhog, everything had to be in the most traditional way possible and the organising committees left no stones unturned to usher in the pujo in a very Bangali style.
Mahashtami, the most important day of the pujo, began with pushpanjali (offering flowers to the Goddess). Women in traditional laal paar sada saree (white saree with red border) or dhakai and taant, payjama panjabi (Kurta payjamas) streamed to the puja pandal to offer their prayers. “Our pushpanjali began around 11.30 am and continued till 2 pm. People offered their prayers in batches,” says Vikramjit Pal Chowdhury, member of Dakshini in Anna Nagar, which is celebrating its 18th anniversary this year. Eager to keep the Bangaliana alive, the idol was decked in traditional white or daaker saaj, a far cry from the theme-based decorations in the city of joy. The priest had come all the way from West Bengal and so had the cook. As the wafting aroma of luchi chholar daal filled the air, Tanushree Ghosh, another member smiled proudly, “No bhog can match the taste of Dakshini’s.”
“I have brought all the essential spices from home to preserve the authentic taste,” said Bhagabath, who has been cooking for them for the past 15 years.
The couple game show, youngsters serving food, the women busy with puja work – everything justifies President Jayashree Ghosh’s statement that the members are all one huge family who come together every year.
Not only Dakshini, but also the puja spirit was palpable in the Chennai Bengali Association in T Nagar. The rhythmic beating of the dhaak (type of drum), the pungent yet sweet fumes of the dhoop and dhuno and the incessant clamour of kaashar and ghanta (bells) during the sandhya aarati took the devotees to a frenzy. Outside, the ambience was a stark contrast as a voice blared on the microphone imploring the visitors to gorge on the scrumptious food items, ranging from cutlets and rolls to Bengali sweets.
Pujabarshikis or special puja editions of magazines were stacked in one of the stalls, along with glossy Bengali magazines, adding to the air of Bangaliana. Though the prices of the items might pinch your pocket, no one really cared because it is not every day that they get to indulge in Bengali delicacies. “Ashtami is the day when we have maximum visitors, and we have everything planned so that things proceed smoothly without any hiccups,” said Anjan Prasad Chakraborty, President, Bengali Association. In its 79th year, the association boasts of not only the oldest but also one of the biggest pujas in the city.
The South Madras Cultural Association in Besant Nagar was abuzz with dhaak beats as beautifully dressed men and women came together to reconnect with their roots on Mahanabami morning. While old friends met and niceties were exchanged, posters around the pandal expressed grief over the sudden demise of eminent Bengali litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay. The food stalls, the Bengali book counters and the endless queue for bhoger khichuri was no different from a Kolkata pujo.
“For someone who spent 25 years in Kolkata, missing the glitz, glamour and the crowd is natural, but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got here. Starting from the anjali to the bhog, everything made me feel at home,” said Arghya Chakraborty, who moved to Chennai recently. “Knowing that so many Bengalis reside in this city and establishing some sort of a relationship with them over the past few days was of course a bonus,” he added.
As goddess Durga left for her heavenly abode on Vijayadashami, devotees bid her farewell amidst sindur khela (playing with vermillion) and dhunuchi naach. With heavy hearts and moist eyes, Bengalis around the globe say “aschhe bochhor abar hobe” (come again next year).
