Durga Puja

[Guest guest]

As many of you may know, Navaratri is celebrated as Durga Puja for

Bengalis all over the world. The preparations for the festival begins

many months early for the elaborate Pratimas (statues) and Pandals.

For many, the festival becomes not only a religious and social

function, but an occasion to participate in the biggest community art

event of the year. Neighborhoods compete literally and figuratively

for the most unique Pratima and the settings, with styles ranging from

every part of the world - foil, shola, matchsticks, seashells, cononut

husks, african, adivasi, aborigini or tribal - art comes alive in a

amazing way, in a magnitude perhaps unparalleled in the world.

 

http://www.anandautsav.com/abp2004/movie_prelude.html

 

While Bengalis all over the globe celebrate the festivities, the most

spectacular artwork remains a privilege of Kolkatans. The following

site takes you through a Parikrama (tour) of a few of the hundreds of

Puja sites, their Idols and Decor and gives us a glimpse of that

world.

 

http://www.anandautsav.com/abp2004/index_e.html

 

I thank the technology and the internet for making this available to

people like me, who wouldn't be able to face that level of crowds even

I was present there.

 

Some of the write ups on this site are in Bengali .. but do surf

through the site to see all the facets of this glorious event for

Bengalis, when Maa Durga comes home to her father's house for ten days

to spend time with her earthly family.

 

I look forward to hearing from others about how they experience

Navaratri, and other regional festivals.

 

Enjoy

 

_/\_ tat twam asi

 

Uma