Bonedi Durgotsav
First published by Harsh Docutech Corporation in 2017 Kadam Digital Transprints PVT Ltd 568/B, 1st Floor, Lokmanya Tilak Bhavan, Narayan Peth, Pune 411030 Copyright Š by Rangeet Ghosh 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrival system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocoping, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder. For private circulation and not for sale. ISBN 978-2-4054-8550-5 Designed by Rangeet Ghosh
Bonedi Durgotsav
Ti My grandmother, Indulekha Sarkar for fascinating me with her lovely stories and getting me accustomed to the rituals and customs
Acknowledgement I would like to thank a few people for making this book possible. Halley Goswami, for providing me with such valuable information and contacts. Priyabrata Daw of Shibkrishna Daw bari, Jorasanko, Parthasarathi Sen of Nilmani Sen bari, Birendra Kumar Roy, Paromita Roy, Sabyasachi Roy and Arpita Roy of Kalikapur raaj bari and Surul Sarkar bari for letting me in on their traditional rituals of Durga Pujo without which this book wouldnot have been possible. I would also like to thank my faculty member Sir Mathew Kurien and Sir Bipin Daftardar for all their help. Lastly, I would like to thank Sulogna Ghosh, for helping me write this book and my parents for constantly rallying beside me.
Introduction Durga Puja in Bengal is not just a religious festival. It is an emotion. An emotion that cannot be easily explained in words, the agomoni of the Goddess is marked ďŹ rst by Mahalaya, the rich tones of Birendra Krishna Bhadra drifting from the old radio at 4am in the morning, “jaago tumi jaagoâ€?. And if Durga Puja displays the rich heritage of Bengal, there is something else which is richly entwined with the festival of Durga Puja. The ancient bonedi baris (houses) of Bengal that displays the erstwhile opulence of the Zamindars of undivided Bengal whose lifestyle has now almost become Bengali folklore. Nowadays, members of these bonedi bari live separately but if there is one singular entity that brings them all together, it is the annual ritual of the Durga Puja. These rajbaris and zamindar baris still come alive in their full glory during the days of Durga Puja, drawing huge crowd from all across the country.
Kalikapur Rajbari Approximately 350-375 years ago the puja was started by Poromanondo Roy, the dewan of the then Maharaja of Burdwan. He built the temple and adjoining residence at Kalikapur, Burdwan. Later, as per a dream, he built a pair of terracotta temple of Lord Shiva next to the Durga Mandir to worship shiva and Durga together.
The puja at Kalikapur Rajbari actually starts from Krishna Nabami. Earlier, a goat was sacrificed from the day of bodhan to mahanabami. But after the abolition of zamindari the economy doesnot support this sacrifice nowadays. Offerings were made in golden and silver plates. Now, a goat is sacrificed on the day of bodhan and another on mahashtami. On mahasaptami and mahanabami chalkumro and sugarcane are sacrificed and on mahadasami all the idols are immersed except Laxmi, who is separately worshipped is not immersed. She is kept in the adjoining residence.
Surul Sarkar Bari The ancestors of Sarkars came from Neelpur village in Burdwan district. They relocated to Surul in the early years of 1700s. In the year 1782, John Chief was appointed the ďŹ rst resident supervisor of Surul on behalf of East India Company. By this time, the Sarkars were already rich and an important name of the area. Bharat Chandra Sarkar and his wife Vimala devi gave birth to Krishnahari Sarkar. Krishnahari entered into trade relations with John Chief and further consolidated the position of Surul Zamindari . Krishnahari Sarkar’s great grandson Srinibas Sarkar took the family to new heights of prosperity and raised the value of the zamindari estate in those times were 18 lakh rupees. His grandson Srinibas, rebuilt a ambouyant thakurdalan and made it into a grand festival. In 1805 he summoned Gobinda mistri to Surul and constructed the lavish Chandi Mandap and palaces which still stand today. The construction cost 18000 rupees in those days.
Even today, the puja is continued with unbound enthusiasim and devotion. The Navapatrika (Kolabou) is brought from the ghats on decorated palanquins in a grand procession. The whole village assemble to witness the spectacle. The spontenous participation of the local people adds to the festive spirit of this puja. In evenings the Mandap is lit with chandeliers and original Belgian glass scones.
On dashami the devi is led to waters in a grand procession accompanied by aming torches and spectacular ďŹ reworks. Bearing in traditions of the old times, the faces of the idols are hand carved by the artist every year afresh. Sarkar bari’s much awaited Durgotsav is a rare example where time has failed to dampen the spirit and scale of Durgotsav celebrations.
Nilmani Sen Bari The Sen family, mostly referred to as the Nilmani Sen family is named after Sri Nilmani Sen, a gold merchant by profession. During the early 19th century he moved to Calcutta from Jessore, presently in Bangladesh. They settled in Jakeria street in central Calcutta. His grandson, Sri Kanailal Sen, aquired a house with a thakur dalan addressed, 130, Baithakhana Road, where the Nilmani Sen family celebrates Durga Puja at present times.
Unlike other idols which shows Goddess Durga with ten hands, slaying the buffalo demon ‘Mahisasura’, Nilmani Sen family worships the idol which depicts peace and majesty Abhaya Murti (having two hands in the form of fear not and benediction sitting on a throne of red lotus). A lion cub is the carrier of Goddess Durga.
During the sandhi puja, performed in the evening between Mahashtami and Mahanavami. One hundred and eight lamps are lit in front of the Goddess, pushpanjali is performed along with havan and chandipath. The family also performs a ritual of raktadan (offering of blood) since centuries. Since the family doesnot the sacriďŹ ce of any living beings, the ritual is followed by offering blood from a small cut in the chest onto woodapple leaves and hibiscus owers.
Sovabajar Rajbari The Shobhabazar Rajbari is among one of the oldest Royal houses of Kolkata aristocracy. It was built by Raja Nabakrishna Deb, a prominent aristocrat of Kolkata. He was an ardent exponent of Brahmo Samaj Movement initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. The Rajbari is famous for its annual Durga Puja celebrations in the month of OctoberNovember. It is also an important heritage site of Kolkata resplendent with memories of the old zamindari era that dominated the region once upon a time.
Bibliography Halley Goswami, admin, Bonedi Durgotsav Parthasarathi Sen, Nilamni Sen Bari Sayantani Mitra, Sovabajar Rajbari Birendra Kumar Roy, Kalikapur Raj Bari, Surul Sarkar Bari Paromita Roy, Kalikapur Raj Bari, Surul Sarkar Bari Sabyasachi Roy, Kalikapur Raj Bari, Surul Sarkar Bari Abhinaba Sarkar, Surul Sarkar Bari Amitabha Gupta https://www.facebook.com/Banglarbonedipuja/ https://www.facebook.com/BonediDurgotsav/