Durga puja Begins in West Bengal

Kolkata: Durga Puja rituals began in West Bengal on Monday as enthusiastic devotees plunged into merriment marking the first day of the biggest festival in this part of the world. ‘Sasthi’ or ‘Bodhan’ — the welcoming of the Durga idols — signaled the commencement of the five-day puja as the eastern metropolis welcomed its patron goddess to beats of dhaak (drums) and aroma of incense. Armed with mobile apps, special arrangement by West Bengal Transport Development Corporation for puja parikrama (pandal hopping), printed guide maps, denizens, and tourists — cutting across age and class barriers — hit the streets here and in towns across districts, making rounds of different marquees under tight security arrangements.

Cyclone Titli timed its departure perfectly with the beginning of the ‘Sharod Utsav’ (autumnal festivities). There is no forecast of rain. The carnival-like atmosphere began early with many prominent pujas throwing their marquees open to the public in advance from Mahalaya, the beginning of Devi Paksha. Along with the greetings of “Shubho Sharadiya” via social media and messengers as also the traditional “namaskara, the chants of “Jai Durga” and “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai” reverberated across the state with every city, small town and village joining in the fervour. The puja is usually a five-day event with Sasthi, and the subsequent four days — Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami — translating into frenzied pandal-hopping (visiting marquees) in new clothes, meeting friends and family and stuffing oneself with traditional delicacies. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished people on Sasthi via a social media message. (IANS)