Just About Everything

Durga idol Hatibagan Sarbojanin Happy Saptami! I can't believe that Saptami is almost over. That just leaves us with two more days of festivities :( Here are some more beautiful Durga puja pandals from North Kolkata . The best part about most of the pandals, I visited this year, was the use of natural materials for decorations.It is really nice to see the conscious use of natural materials; not only are they environment friendly, they also result in the employment of rural talent. These creations are so very artistic and amazing. I hope you enjoy this tour.I will bring you more soon. Hatibagan  Sarbojanin puja pandal Paper Decoration pieces Used tea bags  The main pandal with colourful paper decorations Durga idol Nabin Pally Durga puja Paper-mâché Pandal with paper mache Beautiful paper mache creation Durga idol Nalini Sarkar Street Durga puja Hatibagan pandal decorations ...

Sharing a very brief video of idol immersion. You will get a glimpse of idol immersion in the Ganges. The water and the lights make the whole scene dreamy and peaceful. Not a very clear video but you can make out the boats at a distance.

Today is Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra) and it is the last day of Durga pujas, and like every year, we think Durga puja gets over too fast and too soon L And like every year, I saw some amazingly beautiful creations this year. I will post some of my favourites in the next few posts. On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra), I would like to leave you with a message that I received from a friend today:- Dasha Hara is a Sanskrit word which means removal of ten bad qualities within us: Kama vasana (Lust) Krodha (Anger) Moha (Attachment) Lobha (Greed) Mada (Over Pride) Matsara (Jealousy) Swartha (Selfishness) Anyaaya (Injustice) Amanavta (Cruelty) Ahankara (Ego) So Vijaya of Dashmi literally means overcoming and defeating these bad qualities. I wish you a  life full of joy and peace. Happy Dussehra.

A workshop with so many idols! Kumartuli is the place to be if you are interested in sculpting. The work of these talented artists is indeed mesmerizing. Kumartuli (Kumortuli) is home to talented sculptors who sculpt the idols of Gods and Goddesses. Kumartuli is well-known for the Durga idols that the artists create in there. You will find the place abuzz with activities all through the year, but it reaches its peak during Durga pujas. Durga idols start getting sculpted almost five to six months before Durga Puja. Not only do the artists create idols for West Bengal and other states, the idols are also sent abroad. Kumartuli is located near Shobhabazar in North Kolkata, West Bengal. I am sharing some pictures of the beautiful sculptures that these talented artists create.                                         An artist at work at Kumartuli Durga Idol Durg...

Durga Idol at the Goswami Rajbari, Serampore, West Bengal Today is Ashtami, one of the most auspicious days of Durga puja. It is believed that Ma Durga killed the demon mahishasura on Ashtami. I can’t believe that it is Ashtami already! Just two more days and Durga pujas will be over:( I will continue with the Bihar trip report after a couple or more posts of the beautiful Durga puja pandals and idols. There is so much to share!. I have been out all night pandal hopping on 19th, and on the 21st I went visiting the Raj baris in Hooghly district in the outskirts of Kolkata, some of them celebrating four hundred years of Durga puja.It is unbelievable how much of history is tucked away in these traditional durga pujas in Hooghly district of West Bengal. I will begin by posting some pictures of the Goswami Rajbari of Serampore in Hooghly. I just love these old houses! Goswami Rajbari Serampore Courtyard of the Rajbari Rooms around the courtyar...

Beautifully sculpted  Durga idol These are some beautiful Durga idols from South Kolkata, Durga Puja 2011. I will continue to post more Durga puja pictures. Today is Navami. I am feeling sad that tomorrow will bring an end to this five day long festival. Time to say bye to Ma Durga and the amazingly beautiful puja pandals. Durga idol handcrafted by artists from Krishnanager, West Bengal Durga image 2011  Beuatiful and exquisite Duga idol Kolkata Durga puja 2011 Creative modern Durga idol South Kolkata Durga pandal Goddess Durga image Pandal made with glass Hindusthan Park, Kolkata Durga Idol Hindusthan Park, Kolkata Jute Duga Pandal Kolkata Durga Idol

Tomorrow is Mahalaya. Mahalaya happens a week before the Durga Puja. The puja countdown begins from Mahalaya. It is a sort of invitation to Goddess Durga to descend on earth. Wherever I am, I have to find time to listen to " Mahisasura Mardini”, Songs and Shlokas on Mahalaya at dawn. Not out of any compulsion, but because I love listening to it. Birendra Krishna Bhadra voice is immortal. To me no Mahalaya is complete without listening to him. There is certainly something about this day... It could be that since I was a little child, my parents used to wake us up at 4am to listen to Mahalaya. The radio would be in my parents room and each of us would listen to it from our rooms. None of us had to get out of our beds...but we did keep awake to listen to the complete Mahalaya. Not because our parents insisted, but because we loved listening to it. I guess the early morning ambience combined with the shlokas and songs has a spiritual element to it. Can't wait for my dose of Mahala...

Durga Puja is an auspicious occasion which is celebrated in various parts of India, and predominantly in West Bengal. Basically the festival celebrates the victory of good over evil. Durga Puja is just around the corner. And Kolkata is buzzing with activity. People are completing their shopping and they have just two more days to go before sasthi (05.10.2008). The face of the goddess remains covered until the unveiling ritual is performed on Sasthi - the sixth day of the moon. That's the day when the puja festivities begin in full swing! The puja will continue till Dashami...that is thursday (09.10.2008) Everything is so lively and colourful! It is also the time when families visit each other and most of their time is spent in the pandals...every day begins with Anjali (offering prayer flowers to Ma Durga) followed by bhog. Bhog is a sacred food offering to Ma Durga. It is known as Khichri, made out of rice and pulses, a mixed vegetable preparation that is equally delicious, pappad...