Kolkata biryani, basanti pulao (fragrant rice), chholar dal (chana lentil), fish fry, kobiraji (cutlets), kathi roll (kebab wrapped in flaky paratha), rosogolla, machh er kaliya (fish curry), Kashmiri alu r dom (steam cooked baby potatoes), mutton kosha (mutton curry) and pineapple chutney – these are only a handful of delectables that will be served at the Durga Puja celebrations across Chennai.
As the season of Ashwin (sixth month of the solar Bengali calendar) knocks on our doors, preparations for Durga Puja are in order. Although a microcosm of the grand spectacle that ensues in Kolkata, Bengali communities in Chennai come together to recreate the flurry and fervour of the festival that they grew up witnessing.
Durga sporting the daaker saaj | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Biplob Bhakta, secretary of The Bengal Association in T Nagar says, “I believe we are the oldest puja in Chennai. This is our 90th year and we believe in making the puja an inclusive one where other communities can also participate in our celebrations Keeping this in mind we have a team of craftsmen coming in from West Bengal’s Phulia who will display Bengal handicrafts at the venue.” Rituals will stick to tradition and will be performed by a priest from Kolkata. The idol has been sculpted by senior artist Kishori Mohan Pal.
Biplob adds, “We have also started publication of a Bengali literary magazine called Dakshiner Darpan (Mirror of the South) which is our third edition but this year we have made it a Puja edition. Bengal has always had a rich cultural and literary heritage. Keeping with that, this magazine will be a reservoir of poems and creations by us prabasi (Bengali living outside West Bengal) Bengalis.”
Soumya Guha Thakurta, ex secretary of The Bengal Association elaborates, “Since Durga Puja this year coincides with a long weekend, we have organised an elaborate bhog for all those who come for the puja – which is almost a 25% percent jump from the arrangements we usually have. That apart, singer Raghab Chatterjee will be performing on Navami.”
Sudip Mitra, president of South Madras Cultural Association (SMCA) is picky about the finer details. He points to a Durga idol at T Nagar’s Kumartuli (a traditional potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata) at Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya and says, “I wanted this year’s idol to be like the sabeki (traditional) idol made by Bagbazar Sarbojanin in Kolkata.“The 13-feet tall idol towers over the Vidyalaya in T Nagar where other Durga and Kali idols are sculpted.
Women taking part in puja rituals | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
At Dakshini Society Anna Nagar, celebrations have begun by giving back to Nature. Subir Shaw, secretary of the society says, “Since we complete 30 years next year, we decided to mark the occasion by planting 30 trees in Kancheepuram. Our idol will be in the mould of daaker saaj, (made of rangta or silver foil) and silver sequins,” he says. The name is derived from daak meaning post, since these materials were imported from Germany when they were unavailable in India. “The idol has been sculpted by Kishori Mohan Pal. A Bengali priest from Bishnupur in West Bengal will be present to carry out puja rituals,” says Subir. Embellishing the celebrations are food stalls by Barbecue Nation, Lazeez Bytes, Calcutta Express among others. The puja is open to all. However, the DJ night on Navami (October 23) is a members exclusive event.
SMCA’s puja pandal that used to be held at Besant Nagar has moved to ECR this year | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Earlier, SMCA’s puja was held at Besant Nagar. This year marks their 45th year which will see festivities being shifted to Kailash Conventions, Injambakkam, ECR. Highlighting the events list is a musical night on Saptami (October 21) by singer Lagnajita Chakraborty. “Members and guests will have free access to Lagnajita’s performance but will have to pay a donation of ₹500,” says Sudip. Kolkata Khash Khabar will put up a stall and will also prepare Ma’s bhog (food for the goddess). Viens or sweet makers from Kolkata will have a live counter where they will prepare hot rosogollas and a variety of sweets like pantua, sandesh, kheerer chom chom.
A dancer dances in front of Krishna Gana Sabha’s idol | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
K L Subramanian, secretary, Dakshin Chennai Prabasi Cultural Association (DCPCA) says that cultural programmes will be held throughout the five days of puja. “Singers Senjuti Das and Rahul Singh will be coming in on October 20 and 22 respectively. This year we have invited a team of senior citizens from Akshaya Trust to offer anjali (prayers). We are also organising a dandiya night on October 23,” says Subramanian. All festivities will be held at Ilara resorts Navalur.
In a first, Live4You is organising a puja with cultural events at Krishna Gana Sabha on all nine days leading to Navaratri. Celebrations will be a blend of Bengali and Tamil traditions. The idol will be that of Thirupurasundari with the face of Bengal’s Durga – symbolic of the integration of two traditions.
