“Ghosh Baari Durga Puja 2011” Heritage of faith; kept intact

 

Much have been told about the originality and, timeline of the Durga Utsav of the Ghosh family of Ghoshpara, Jaamgram, Pandooah, of Hooghly District; approximately 61 km from Calcutta, West Bengal, India. This age old practice of divine celebration attracts the devotees for the nitty-gritties the family has maintained, in terms of rituals and practices; since 550 years, as time-honored by Sri Makaranda Ghosh; 28 generations ago, as appeared in his dream to commemorate the wish of Mahamaya to be praised by the family.

Here I am plotting the layout of the entire festival and its description from the person, who became the house-wife of this very “ Family”, at the age of 14; and took the responsibility of the rituals and the practices of the family “Durga-Utsav” at the age of 16. Since then, on every alternative year, what they call their Paalaa or term, continued as it is.

We are about to begin the journey, through and through in pictures that might tell you thousands of words and more stories. Here, I present you the Biophotopic of 2011 Durga Puja as seen through my Nikkor Lens…

Panchami

Welcome to the Ghosh Bari Durga Dalan 2011

As I entered and about to step into the main mandir

Shringar – stolen moment

Sringar – the final touch

Shashti

Kalpa Puja 1

Kalpa puja 2

Dhakis Accompaning Kalpa Puja

Clay Katora Exclusively For Bhog To Durga & Other Divines

Bodhan Preparation

Bodhan Naibidya

BODHAN ARTI

DHAKIS ACCOMPANING BODHAN ARTI

Shifting Of Naibidyas From Bodhan Tala To Thakur Dalan

Naba Pattrika Prabesh

Naba Pattrika Close-up

ODHIBASH - DURGA BARAN

Odhibash

Making Of Mangal Suttra

Mangal Suttra

Tying Of Mangal Suttra to Mahamaya

Tying Frame 2

Tying Frame 3

Shaptami

Collection Of Rice For Mahanaibidya

Orientation Of Collected Rice

Giving The Shape

Supply Of Rice, Till It Becomes 18.5 Kg Per Day Making It 340 Kg Of Rice For All 4 Days, For All The Naibidyas

Mahanaibidya – About To Take The Final Shape

The Mahanaibidya

Along With Mahanibidya, The Other Naibidyas To Display A Few

Way To Taalpukur - Kolabou Chaan

Kolabou Chaan, The Pre-dawn Affair

Taalpukur

The Ritual Begins

Tel - Holud Chaan

The Holy Dip

Puja

When The Chaan Is Over

Way Back To Mandir

Stepping In For The Maha Snan

Angot Kola Pata To Rest The Kola Bou

Maha Snaan - Take 1

Maha Snaan - Take 2

Kola Bou Shringar 1

Kola Bou Shringar 2

Kola Bou Shringar 3

Shindur Daan

Praan Pratishttha

Chokku Daan - Shampurno Habar Por

Griha Laxmi Pratishtta

Kola Bou & The Griha Laxmi

Jaag Padeep Must Burn Till Dashami

It’s An Omen If The Pradeep Goes Off. Someone Takes Care To Keep It Burning

This Age Or That Age, In This Durga Dalan, The Spirit Of Mahamaya Is Ageless

The Divine Beauty

Among Her Many Forms Lets Hope She Will Usher The Wealth So To Help Us Bring Mother Forever And After

Brahmin Bhojan 1

Brahmin Bhojan 2

Kola Bou Griha Laxmi Shandya Arti

Second Day I Am With You As I Promise Every Year

Mother Is At Every Arc Of Life

Shandhya Arti - Mukh

Shandhya Arti

Shandhya Arti - Nabhi

Dhakis, The Integral Part Of The Puja

They Have Come Before & Come Again When The Time Came

Happiness In The Air

Let thy Spirit Come To Us

Sampurna

Sampurna Shaptami

Ashtthami

From The Divinity – Daridra Narayan Bhoj

One Of Many Rounds

One Those Rounds

A Panoramic View – Daridra Narayan Bhojan

As The Evening Sky Grew Dark

Shandhya Arti

The Arti

In The Midst Of The Arti

As The Veteran Watches The Jaag Pradeep

Under The Feet Of Mother – All Is Blessed…

Shandikyan

One Hundred And Eight Diyas

Naibidyas & Shandikhyan

Puja Begins – Shandikhyan

Yagna

Yagna & Pushpanjali

Offering To Agni Dev

Surrendering The Self In Shandikhyan Arti

Placing Of Kamal At Mother’s Feet – Sampurna Shadikhyan

Ashthami Bhog After Shandikkhan & Onset Of Navami

Ashthami Bhog After Shandikkhan & Onset Of Navami

Navami

Shandhya Arti

Dashami

Puja – Dashami Morning

Naibidya & Dadhikarma

Kumari Puja

Kumari Puja – Shringar

Mantra

Pranaam

Wearing Aalta On Feet By The 28th Generation

Receiving Offering From Double Her Generation – Head Of Ghosh Bari – As Goddess Durga Resides In Her At The Age Of Eight, For She Is

Aparajita

Summer’s Almost Gone

The Tough Knots To Lift The Spirits

With All Mental StrengthLifting The Bodies

On The Move

The Final Step – Out From The Mandir

When The Music Is Over

Biding The Final Adieu

Emptiness

Mingling To Wait Till Next Year

Approaching Time

Pradakkhin

Counting The Rounds

The Spinning Steps

Durga Baron Take 1

Baron Take 2

Baron Take 3

Baron Take 4

Baron Take 5

Moment before kanakaanjali, unfortunately I missed the actual act of the same, for some one crossed my lens during the shutter lag after I released the shutter; biggest downside of digital compact

Shindur Khela

Shindur Khela Continues

Outside Activities – Making Of Bamboo Carriage With Precision Of Inch. Mother To Travel On Shoulder

Lifting For Inside Out

A Quick Muscle Work & Durga Dalan Has Changed Into Nothingness

All Insiders’ Farewell For Her Safe Journey & Hope For The Next Year

Tying The Final Knot With All our Confidence We Have Had From Her

About To Escalate

Off To Nandi Bari To Call Her Sister To Accompany In Her Journey

Here Comes Nandi Bari, And As We Can See The Back Of her Sister, As No Two Idols Can Stand Face To Face

Her Sister – A Glimpse

A Long Night March To Taalpukur

Taalpukur - Loose Yourself – Blend In There

Absolute White Night

At The Ghat For Immersion

Immersion

Everything Living Is Leaving Her Face – Soon She Will Disappear In The Still Water

Until Next Year –And The Festival Is Fading Now

White Night In The Woods

Shadows Of Light

Shantir Jal

Sampurna Durga Utsav

2011

Acknowledgement • Gratitude To Jaamgram 

Ghosh Family & Other Members

• Purohit Sri Durga Das & Bitta Das

• The Dhakis For Waking Me Up; And…

• My Family Members• Powered by: Debashis Kar

• Pt. Rajan & Sajan Mishra

• Raga – Durga• Vocal• Ustad Amjad Ali Khan• Raga – Durga• Sarod