Baritey, Kojagari Lokkhi Pujo

Hothat decide korlaam je barite lokkhi pujo kora uchit... tai ey baar Kojagari Purnimaar din...
Shob jogaar kore... shara din uuposh kore... shondhey bela pujo korlaam... khob bhalo laglo....

Pujo Maneyi...

Pujo maneyi... Mayer aasha...
Pujo maneyi... Khushi...
Pujo maneyi... notun jama
anek anek beshi...

Pujo maneyi... Pushpanjoli
shokaaler chaan serey
Pujo maneyi... bhog khawa
shob kaaj pheley

Pujo maneyi... dhunor gondho
phool, chandan, jol
Pujo maneyi... melaye jabo
shobai miley chol!!!

Pujo maneyi... adda-aashor
parar more more
Pujo maneyi... ghutre jawa
babar haat dhore

Pujo maneyi... pandel ghora
jege raat-bhor
Pujo maneyi… dhaker aawaj
kataye ghumer ghor

Pujo maneyi… chobi tola
Mayer protimaar
Pujo maneyi… ekkeybare,
bhandha gorur chaar

Pujo maneyi... shober sheyshey
aashche botchoor aabar…
Pujo maneyi… mishti mukh
Shubho bijoyaar!!!

Pujo Porbo...

Tulo Megh, kore chuto-chuti,
Sharoter nil akaashey.
Mridu hawaye dole kash phul.
Sheulir gondhe, kalo bhromorer gun-gun

Baddir awaze bhenge galo ghum
Khushir phoyara chute uthlo prane…
Pujo aasheche… pujo aasheche, bole galo kane.

Shankho dhwani janalo, Debir agomon
Paancho pradeepey porlo ghee…
Shuru holo shlok paath
Bajlo kanshor ghanta

Pushpanjalir alo ebaar pala.
Hajeer hoyeche jone-jone koto lok,
Janate tader bhakti…
Tara chaye, Mayer ashirbaad o kripa dristi.

Mongolmoyee r kache, kore kar jod…
Mongol kamona kore…shudhu din bhor.
Ektu shukh ar shantir aasha,
Ayi niye e to shobar bechethaka.

Mahishashur Mardini, taar dosho-bhuja vesh
Kanchan borno, kunchito kesh.
Aalokito mukho-mondol, potol chera chokh…
Montro - mugdho kore, amay, hazaar hok.

Binaar taare dhore niye tan,
Ma Saraswati janaye nijer abosthan

Kamal ashone, Ma Lakkhier biram…
Dhoner Debike janayi shador pronaam.

Kumar kartik er shundor roop,
Jayno golaper paprite, ekti shishirer bindu.

Shankha- chakra- gada- padma hathey…
Shree Ganesh thik royeche shathe.

Khushir aamez choriye gache deek digantoye
Manusher kolorob, bhenpur aawaz shona jaye duur theke.
Notun shaaj poshakey, khayla kore shishura…
Mukhe tader haanshi…
Tader chokher chamak, haar manay akaasher tara der…

Char din… thik, char din mot…
Dukkho bhule shob hoyeche ek jot
Khushir khaya bhashate chay
Ma amader, aasheyi to tai…

KOLKATA (11) - Agomoni

"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu,
Sakti rupena sanksthita...
Namasteshwai, Namasteshwai, Namasteshwai namo namaha."
These chants work as a catalyst in waking up the sleeping Bengali spirit!!!
Perfuming the air with gaiety...
It is the start of a long season of festivities...
The most aupicious occassion of Durga Puja...
It's almost as if everyone loses control... everything else takes a backseat... especially work...!!!
I saw the 'Pandal' being crafted very beautifully in my Locality....
Coloured with the same brush... by the virtue of being a Bengali.. I went to the pandal, on the way back from office...., to take a sneek peak before the unveiling of the deity on 'Maha Panchami' day...
My senses erupted in a roit of colours... as I looked at the Deity....
Even half finished.. I knew.. it would be beautiful...
A very 'Totem pole-ish' appeal.... reminds me of the one I saw in Germany...

A beautiful representation of Ma Durga... with her children (Devi Saraswati, Devi Laxmi... Kumar Kartikeya & the lovable Lord Ganesha... (I quite like the balancing act on the bull's horns...)

Mahisasur here.... reminds me of the Bhutan Dragon....!!!

Painting work in progress... with only a few days to go... Artists are trying to finish the work on war footing...!!!!

Artist adding final touches to the deity of Ma Durga...

After seeing this.. I am eagerly waiting for the pujas to arrive..!!!!!

"Debi Pokkhey r holo agomon…
Khushir hawaye dulchey Kaash Phul
Jhir-jhir borshaye roder lukochuri…
Kokhono ba, chutey byraye,
Shoroter nil aakashey, shadaa tulo megh…

Aaste aaste gore utheychey parar morer Mondop…
Ma yer aashar opekkhaye…
Aalok shaaj, shojjaye jhol-mol kore mahanagori…

Agami Pujor din gulo tomaar bhalo katuk…
Tomake r tomar priyojon der janai, Sharodiya Preeti O Subhechha…!!!
Bhalo theko… Aanondo koro…
Eti
Rimi"

KOLKATA (Part 10)- Torpon,Mahalaya

28th Sept 08. 1:30pm. Mullik Ghat.

I accompanied my father & uncle for the annual ritual of 'Torpon' on the banks of the river Hoogly...
The generally deserted Mullik Ghat, was thronging with people.... The Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge) can be seen in the background.

By the time we reached, people were already present in hordes The River Hoogly flows under the Howah Bridge... while the people offer their prayers...
During the performance of the ritual, prayers are offered to the spirits of parents & fore-fathers by their sons or kins...

The large cantilever Howrah Bridge stands tall in the background.... while a priest performs the rituals in the fore ground...
A priest & a devotee chanting 'Mantras'.... The priest holds in his hands a dog-eared copy of 'Shlokas' & a ' Kansha' (brass) salver with 'Dhaan', 'Til', 'Chaal', 'Phool', Dubbo'...

A priest blessing a man with 'Gonga-mati' (mud from the Ganges)


'Kosha-Kushi' a spoon-like copper utensil which is used extensively during all 'Pujas' for holding the holy water of the Ganges...
Dad, offering his prayers to the Almighty.... 'Torpon'

'Pind- Daan' ... so that the soul of the dearly departed can rest in peace...

Some people prefer to perform more elaborate rituals...

Vaisnavs singing 'Kirtans'... Devotees at the Shiva temple behind Mullik Ghat...

On my way back, down the over bridge, I found a woman selling a bag full of 'Dhutro-Phool' this is used as offerings only to Lord Shiva!!!

In total, an unique experience... I had never been to the river side during this time ever in my life... I wadded knee deep in water to take the 'Torpon' photographs... Got my jeans wet in the process... Felt the squilching mud under my feet... but enjoyed the experience... much to the amusement of my father & uncle....