Kathakali Chatterjee wrote this article.
I witnessed "Durgapuja" aka "Puja" in Kolkata last October straight after 4 years. Puja, for those who are not familiar with the term, is the biggest Hindu festival of Eastern part of India, Kolkata being the center of attraction. As an absolute non-religious person, Puja was never really of any significance but even a die-hard atheist like me couldn't really deny the effect of nostalgia and memory it used to bring along.
From my early childhood, the religious part of the festival couldn't lure me, but the vivacious mood did. Puja is about people. It's about watching everyone bubbling with happiness.
I, who never took part in any kind of religious ritual, used to gladly join the "Puja special impromptu dance" with a clay-pot full of incense and used to have a gala time with my friends. The rhythm of the puja special drum is actually supposed to celebrate the victory of good over evil but is transformed into pure fun.
For some, the five-day daily ritual is a colossal waste of money, resources and energy. An extremely conservative estimate of just conducting the festival in Kolkata merely sums up to a hefty 28 million USD. This is only to decorate the city, create the make-shift shade for idols, all of which are temporary and disposed off after the celebration. The amount, when converted into Indian Rupees, is outrageous - I agree. This figure doesn't count the retail business volume which comes as a fringe.
I understand the pundits have facts and figures with them, but what they do not have is a device to measure happiness.
I agree, 28 million USD spent in some social work possibly could make Kolkata the best city in the world. But what about generating ample means of earning through various jobs that are created this time of the year? It's simply mind boggling to observe the glee in the little girl's smile in my neighborhood who probably gets to meet her dad only this time every year who saves money for the occasion, shops for the whole family and comes home.
How can I miss the awe-struck look of the little boy who gets to enjoy the festive-grandeur with his family?
Only at this time I thank my religion for bringing so much joy and laughter in every one's life. And invariably the question comes to my mind is - is festival and celebration always embedded in religion? What if we eliminate the religious part of the festival? Will it still hold the same flavor? I don't think so.
This yearly religious festival is ingrained in our culture in such a way we can't just disregard its significance. In fact, I think we shouldn't.
This festival brings everyone together under one umbrella - irrespective of race, religion, caste and creed. The purpose, as I understand of any religion is to bring peace and if it can be achieved through a festival like this, we should have more festival from all the religion in the world instead of war.
Thank you for the wonderful article, Katha!
Why do you think during the celebration that caste and social status no longer matters?
Hi David,
During any celebration the mood stays pretty jubilant in general so people are less conscious about the class-difference.
The dance I mentioned, it becomes a group affair and everybody becomes busy having fun without researching who is with whom.
There are instances when my Non-Hindu friends used to enjoy these festivals the way I do.
Any celebration that brings people together like that is worth it, I think.
Hi Gordon,
Yes,I agree!
We need more of it, too!
I loved all you article links, Katha. The dancing is certainly superb.
So when the celebration is over is there an uncomfortable "packing up" of the social strata as people once again are reminded of their place?
Shubho Pujo, Katha!
This brings back some great memories! The pandals, the puja, the unmistakable rhythm of the drums, the heady smells of the thick clouds of incense, the clothes, the mishti (sweets)! Absolutely fantastic!
And then following the long line of idols from different neighbourhoods back to the river banks to see the bisharjan (immersion)!
Now that's fascinating, Dananjay! You said "Pujo" and Katha had "Pujo" in the article and I changed them all to "Puja" because that's how Google wants it spelled and that's how all her links spelled it -- except for the first NYTimes article.
Katha explained the why of the difference in spelling to me -- but your colloquial use of it both pleased and surprised me! Language is certainly amazing.
On last week's Amazing Race they participated in the Holi celebration:
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/the_amazing_race_13/2008_Nov_10_holi_colors
The colors were amazing!
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/holidays/holi.htm
Yes it is, David!
As Katha must have explained, "Puja" is the formal spelling that is accepted almost all over India, but when it is spelled as it is pronounced in Bengali, it's "Pujo".
How is that usage determined, Dananjay? Written vs. spoken? Is it gender-based?
Shubho (Happy)Bijoya Dananjay! So you understand Bengali? How nice!
Do you the smell of Shiuli flower - the night/coral jasmine?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hgmphotos/2897259748/
I remember crying my heart out when I was 6/7 after watching the parade and immersion of the images!
When is the Pongal festival coming? In January, right! Is that the one you celebrate?
David,
Although Bengali shares a lot of words with hindi/sanskrit many of these words have their "a" sounds replaced with "o". It's not gender-based.
So, "Sangeet" (music) is "Shongeet"
"Rabindranath" is "Robindronath"
"Vijay" is "Bijoy"
"Kamal" is "Komol"
My name was pronounced "Dhononjoy Anondom" by many people.
Hi David,
It's sort of like that..."pack up, honeymoon is over!"
Let me be more candid.
Muslims are not allowed/ supposed to pray/ salute any image. My Muslim friends never used to go to any temple any time of the year but they eagerly used to participate in this fun!
Yes, Katha!
Most of my childhood was in Bengal. If you put me on gunpoint, I can probably still read and write some! :)
I'm not sure I remember the smell of the Shiuli flower. I too remember being saddened while watching the immersion. A complete experience! But then the chants would pick us all up... if i remember correctly it went something like, "Aagle bochor aabar..." ???
"We will be back next year" or something to that effect.
You're right, Katha. Pongal is in January. It's a harvest festival!
Fantastic, Dananjay, thanks for the lesson!
Yikes! Got it, Katha, thanks, I appreciate the honesty!
David!
Holi!!!
Now that's something I can't get enough of it! It's an utter chaos those don't like it and tremendous fun to someone like me!
The ritual is - we have touch our elder's feet with color powder to show them respect, put some color powder on our junior's forehead as blessings and just color our friends/ foes/ acquaints/ neighbors/ strangers...at random!
Those two links are awesome!
I remember going to a teacher's house in a group who could only recognize one of friends because of his spects and me because of my smile! Or else, we all were looking same - a complete VYBGIOR!!!
I love it, Katha. The dye powder was incredibly beautiful to watch being flung on the contestants -- though it seemed some of the native celebrators were doing it a bit too hard and much too rough to be fun.
Dananjay!
You are almost there! IT's "aashchhe bochhor abar hobe!" along with the unmistakable rhythm of the drum!
So nice you still remember some Bengali!
Hi David,
Yes, Islamic religion doesn't allow to limit their prayer to certain images per se, it has to be abstract.
That's why.
Yes David, as I told you...it's rough for those who are not used to it...
An absolute stranger is putting color powder all over me is a bit too much - even if it's gender restricted in case of unknown ones.
But, still...it's always fun for friends!!!
I would love to see something as vibrant and as embracing as this.
I am a great believer in ritual - it give focus to the year - something to look forward to and to remember later.
I want to ask questions about the drum beat - I bet it is the same as the usual human heart beat and that everyone tunes in so you get that sense of a living organism of people.
Nicola!
Welcome to the group and thanks for the awesome comment!
It's fascinating the way you feel about the rhythm.
All I know about this ancient instrument is it's very complex to play...but as you said - it's magical!
It is good to be here :)
I am going to do some research on dancing and rhythm - my daughter belongs to a hippy type group that promotes large dancing/festival groups which I think could be very interesting.