Pujas 2009: Sasthi

This year round, to make my blog a place with a tinge of a tang, I will be posting a day to day event and list down the number of places covered during one of the greatest festivals of ManKind, the Durga Pujas. For past 1 month or so, my blog has been flooded with such articles, entitled the Pujas 2009. But this is the foundation stone of a very personalized criticism of the various pujas that the eyes of the blog owner [i.e ME] have rolled upon.

I start with Maha Sasthi, the day of strength and poweress of the goddess durga. Although I have been hailing in the office yesterday as well as today [24/09/09], which had not been the cae in the past 10 years, when my Pujas always started with the inset of Panchami. Still, nothing can be done, except that after completing my work at office, I headed out, did some shopping and then with the remnant time, managed to scrape out some valuable moments and went to Suruchi Sangha.
 

Picture by Somnath Paul.

Fabulous. In one word, they did stick to the concept of Theme Pujas where each organizing committee looks forward to create a puja ambinece pertinent to a particular theme, It might be upbring or grooming certain moral values to exhibiting the various arts and culture. This time, Suruchi Sangha, near New Alipore Petrolpump decided to stick to the former mode.

They talked of Birsa Munda, a person who is a literal hero and a historic figure whom we seldom know of. But Suruchi ensured that the people who visits their pandal or 'camp' surely knows him. Birsa was born some 120 years ago, in a small village @ juncture of the modern Indian provinces of West Bengal and Jharkhand. He was a man with principles, resisting the British Relm of acquiring land, making all the tribals in the region unite against the British government. The first "tribal uprising" was due to this great man - Birsa Munda. The shine-stone mentions the work [ref pic]. Birsa  was tortured to death at a tender age of 25 years! Birsa's statue is installed in the Parliament premises, and the most interesting part of it is, it's the only Tribal leader's statue!!

Picture by SomnathPaul.

The ambience of Suruchi is worth viewing it even in a queue for 40minutes. Time was very short today, hence amongst the big names, I only viewed Suruchi, but while coming back home I did pay a homage visit to all the known pandals in my locality of Taltala, each one maintaing their orthodox style without anything very bew. Yes, the neon lights seemed new and brighter than last year and the crowd was too dashing. This is unlikely for a Sasthi appointment with Goddess Durga.

Picture by Somnath Paul

I do put forward soe of the best chosen pictures, so that your eyes can sooth. More over the album can be viewed on Orkut. Hope you have an account there!

The Wet Edge.

Its a long spell of torrential rain that have been soaking Kolkata, India for the past 24 hours. The spell, caused by an excessive depression over the South Gangetic Bengal, has carried along till date. Looking ahead, one with a mentality like me is naturally induced to write down a post with such a boring heading, WET EDGE!!! Come on...no PINK feeling around!!!

With just three weeks left for the inception of Pujas 2009, the grand festival for a Bengali, a rain can be as sharp an indent like a blade, cutting through the hopes of fun with loved ones, family and friends, to the shredding filaments!

The thought came to mind, while I was strolling across the corridor, talking over the phone. There was a sharp shound of electric shock waves, followed by a huge bang! A thunder must have shoved past us whose shrill stringed noise made me stuch with awe! Then the person across the phone sa

id, "If this continues, then Pujas are a gonner..."

Its very interesting to note the human mind. A few weeks ago, dus to excessive heat wave, everyone eagerly desired for the rain, but now they curse. First of all, the Pujas are untimely this year round, being ahead by almost half a

month. Secondly, the Aila had delayed the rains, which is now showering with all it's might, to fulfill our two weeks old wish to have a torrent!

Anyways, thinking of such a dicy situation, did make me soak in grim mood, as I expect the Pujas to be bright and with lots of grandeur, fir each and everyone! Tip

Tap.... the drops kissed the wash-basin and the thunder kept plying across the skies over Kolkata!!!

Pic: http://office.sustainability.dal.ca/Images/Water%20Tap%20Dripping%20resized.jpg