বাংলায় পড়ুন
To the knowledge of everyone, in Hinduism Mother Durga represents the embodiment of shakti-the divine feminine force that preside over all cosmic creation, existence as well as change. It is believed that Durga emerged from the collective energies of all the gods, including Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The target was to crush the demon Mahishasura, who could not be defeated by any god or man.
With hardly fifteen days left for Durga Puja, Kolkata is buzzing with the preparation to welcome the goddess. People are almost done purchasing their latest Puja clothes. Garment shops earn huge amounts during this season due to sales and discounts.
Bamboo Pandals are almost ready, huge Durga idols are almost built along with Ganesh, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Karthik. At present they are being colored to give that finishing touch. Vegetable colors are used in order to avoid water pollution after immersion.
As usual, the Pandals will carry some type of theme this year too. Precisely, they will be embellished based on some current incident/situation. For example, FD Block Durga Puja will exhibit the theme of violence on women. Others will display decorations with wood, thermocol, glass, shells, conch and lights, which will certainly attract a huge crowd on those four days of the festival.
It is worth mentioning that the Durga Puja industry fetches around Rs. 40000 crores each year. Colossal pandals with brilliant decorations become the centre of attraction in Kolkata which witnesses huge crowds in the city. People arrive from all parts of the city as well as outside the city in the day and night to get a glimpse of the Goddess. In addition, Puja pandals compete with each other with respect to the theme and decoration. Each one tries to outwit the other by every means.
Apart from FD Block Sarbojonin Durgotsav, the other well known Puja pandals of Kolkata which will be richly decorated and drenched in lights are Bagbazar, College Square, Kamartuli Park, Santosh Mitra Square, Mohammad Ali Park, Badamtala Ashar Sangha, Ekdalia Evergreen, Suruchi Sangha, Bose Pukur Sitala Mandir and Jodhpur Park. Most of them have won awards in the past.
During the festive season, Bengalis prepare a lot of spicy and sweet dishes to give a treat to the taste buds. The spicy dishes consist of aloo posto, puri, macher jhol, bandakopir torkari, cholar dal, labra. Sweet dishes include rosogolla, mishti doi, patishapta, nimki, gulab jamun, payesh etc. Mouthwatering indeed!
