Kolkata: A Catholic priest was the chief guest at the khuti pujan (ground breaking ceremony) for this year’s Durga Puja shamiana (pavilion) in Kolkata on August 28.
Salesian Father C.M. Paul, former editor of The Herald weekly, joined eminent citizens of Salt Lake BE Block (West) to extend good wishes and prayers for the successful celebration of the upcoming community festival.
“Durga Puja is celebrated with joy all over Bengal in worship of goddess Durga with singing, dancing, sweets and gaiety,” sixth-term president of the Puja Committee Shyamal Baran Roy told Matters India.
The veteran journalist and former president of the Press Club of Kolkata said their stress has always been on “the spiritual element of the Puja, without the fanfare and showbiz generally associated with the festival.”
The theme for this year’s Puja at the Block is ‘Maaer shathe, Maaer pashe’ (With Mother and on Mother’s side), Roy explained, adding, ‘’the theme is a reflection of the inclusive spirit that we follow in organizing our Durga Puja. We want worshippers to find rest and peace in the company of the Goddess.’’
Speaking at the occasion, Fr Paul encouraged all to keep to the theme and make the celebrations in the true sense of spirituality, transcending religious barriers. He urged the residents to be with the Mother and stand by her principles of love, peace, joy and harmony to shed light over darkness, and conquer evil with goodness.
Durga is usually depicted with eight or ten arms, sitting on a lion, with the defeated demon beneath her. She is usually accompanied by the idols of her sons Ganesh and Kartik, and her daughters Lakshmi and Saraswati.
These clay sculptures are richly dressed and decorated with flower garlands and jewelry.
This year Durga puja celebrations start on September 30 and end on October 11.
The khuti puja ritual consists of planting the first pole that would construct the shamiana, also known as a pandal, where the image of the Goddess, usually in clay, is placed and the rituals conducted. The design of a pandal roughly follows that of a Hindu temple that has a garbhamandira (sanctuary) and a prayer hall.
Pandals are usually built with bamboo slats and papier mache and it takes artisans months to build them and make beautiful clay idols of the goddess and her family.
Some of the pandals are small and simple, funded by communities and neighborhood associations through neighborhood fund-raising, but a growing number are very ostentatious and expensive, often sponsored by large businesses and corporations.