Krishnagar, Oct. 8: For the past 300 years, the royal family of Krishnagar has been organising the Durga Puja in their palace, not only to keep the tradition alive but also for the sake of peace in Nadia.
The "royal" family's Puja is hardly a royal affair. It is called a " sarbojonin" festival and has been dedicated to the people in the district ever since it was started in 1683.
At the Krishnagar Raj Bari (palace), Durga is worshiped in the royal family as "Raj Rajeswari", an incarnation of Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and happiness.
The idol is dressed as a warrior and the lion she rides on is more like a horse. This year, the Puja turned 333 years.
It was king Rudra Roy (1683-92), the great grandfather of King Krishna Chandra Roy (1728-1782), who started worshipping the goddess for the well-being and happiness of his subjects.
Although the palace is in urgent need of repairs and is basking under its glorious past, "royal couple" Shaumish Roy and Amrita Roy make it a point to celebrate the festival every year.
This year too, the couple and their lawyer son Manish, who usually stays in Calcutta, have made preparations for the Puja.
"The objective of our family Puja is Sarve Bhavatu Sukhinah/ Sarve Santu Niramayaah/ Sarvey Bhadrani Pashyantu (may all become happy, may all become free from illness, may all see what is auspicious)," said Shaumish, a retired British Airways employee.
"Goddess Durga has been conceptualised here as a saviour of the people in the guise of a warrior. The lion looks more like a horse. She is fighting against all the evils on behalf of us in order to bring happiness among the people here," said Amrita.
Manish, a lawyer at Calcutta High Court, said he had grown up watching his parents worship the goddess with dedication and never missing the Puja despite their engagements.
"This Puja means a lot to us. Since childhood, I have seen my parents pray for the people of Nadia. They pray before Raj Rajeswari so that the people can wage a successful war against evils like poverty, hunger, cruelty, corruption, persecution, illiteracy, suppression, immorality, gender inequality, sorrow and pain," he said.
"There is nothing fake in their feelings. They do it not only for the sake of tradition but also for their relationship with the people here. They dedicate the Puja to the people of Nadia," Manish added.
"We are moving ahead with time. As the successors of the Krishnagar royal family, we are aware that kingship hardly has any significance to people now. But we feel for the people of Nadia. We are also common people. But we will keep praying for the residents as long as we can."
As part of the four-day festivity, the family celebrates a ritual called " Shatru Badh (killing the enemy)" after the idol is immersed. Legend has it that this ritual was started by king Krishna Chandra (1710-1782), who prayed before Durga for power so that he could eradicate peoples' grievances and kill the evil force.
During Shatru Badh, Shaumish, who symbolises the king, takes up a bow and arrow and shoots at a clay model.
Amrita engages in " Sindur Khela" with women of Krishnagar before the immersion on Dashami. She said around 10,000 women had come to the palace last year.
There is another ritual called " Jatramangal", when the king comes out to meet and interact with the people. Prasad is distributed among visitors on all four days of the Puja.
"All these are done for the sake of the people. Our means are limited now. Nevertheless, we do it from our heart," Amrita said.
