KHUTI PUJA 2018

BL Block

BL Block will be showcasing the traditional art form of Chhou dance at their puja pandal this year. Gopinath Sarkar, the head of the block’s puja committee, said the idol of the goddess Durga too shall bear prominent traits of the famous folk dance of Purulia. They had already placed the order for their idols and planned to bring out their souvenir by Mahalaya.

The day was Rathyatra but it was not just the wheels of Lord Jagannath’s chariot that were set rolling in the block. Their preparation for this autumn’s Durga puja were also being set in motion with the customary khuti puja.

The puja was being held in the block community ground, where the pandal comes up every year. Local MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, local councillor Krishna Chakraborty, and men’s rights activist and singer Nandini Bhattacharya were there on invitation.

The MP, who had to attend another khuti puja and six Jagannath pujas on the day, said: “People participating in such cultural activities is far better than doing nothing at all or taking to lawlessness, addiction and social isolation. Community programmes such as these are much needed in today’s world.”

“This custom is a kind of spin-off of the age-old tradition of kathamo (framework of the idol) puja and involves the veneration of a log of wood that would eventually be kept near the idol of the goddess Durga. The puja is therefore conducted on the auspicious day of Rathyatra. Many artisans who make the idols start their work today,” explained Bhudeb Bhattacharya, the chief priest for the occasion as other priests sat chanting mantras to venerate the decorated bamboo pole.

Subarna Koley

HB Block

The entry to the HB Block puja will be fashioned after Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra. But on Ultarath, there was just a bamboo pole, decked with flowers and leaves, kept at the north-east side of the spot where the pandal would come up.

Over 150 people of all ages had braved a nagging downpour and gathered to witness the khuti puja that would flag off the 34th edition of the block’s Durga puja at the community centre of HB Block.

The guest list was long, with MLA Sujit Bose, mayoral council members Devasish Jana and Birendra Nath Biswas, artist Arun Chakraborty of Rekha Chitram and singer Sudeb De heading the list. “The countdown to Durga puja begins from the day of khuti puja and the craze for pandal-hopping is so intense among Bengalis that everyone seeks VIP passes to visit pandals. The enthusiasm surpasses even the craze for East Bengal-Mohun Bagan match tickets,” smiled Bose.

Residents Ritu Mukherjee, Swagata Das and Bhakti Dutta had landed at the community centre at 9am sharp, ignoring the rain, to get puja arrangements going. The tithi for the khuti puja was 9.30am, they said. Srirupa Roychowdhury was busy clicking every moment but the priest asked her for another aamer pallab (mango shoot with five leaves). “One is needed for mangal ghat and another for the khuti to be worshipped,” he explained. So she stopped cilcking to go look for a second one. Treasurer Debashis Saha also had to run to fetch five fruits from the local market, leaving his steaming cup of tea behind. Secretary Kajal Dutta Roy himself was making repeated attempts to light the lamp which was being blown off by a strong breeze. Soma Sen was watching it all from a distance in silence. She was morose, being unable to participate in puja arrangements this year, following the demise of her mother-in-law. “Every year, I actively participate in puja arrangements,” Soma said. Priest Chandan Bhattacharya, who is performing puja at the block for 16 years, said it was the block’s custom to perform khuti puja in the Rathayatra week. “Puja will be offered first to Lord Viswakarma and then to other gods and goddesses, including Durga,” the priest added.

“This year, we are planning a community feast to celebrate Vijaya Dashami on a convenient date after the immersion,” said secretary Dutta Roy.

President Shankar Deb said the year’s puja budget was approximately Rs 26 lakh and the pandal would look like a palace. The occasion concluded with three Manna Dey songs sung by his nephew Sudeb.

Bharati Kanjilal

CA Block

The skies were looming with dark clouds, causing furrows on foreheads of puja committee members of CA Block. They had gathered to celebrate the start of the run-up to their 40th Durga puja. “Taratari koro, brishti ashchhe,” rain alerts were shouted out intermittently. If their clothes got mud-streaked, they put up a brave front. “Clothes do not matter when Ma is coming,” said one with stained pyjamas. Those getting the job done were the middle-aged and the elderly, with hardly anyone young present. “It’s unfortunate that our children are not here since half of them live in different states and the rest are too busy,” sighed Rahul Dutta, a resident.

While the men mostly discussed sports in their huddle the women talked shop till it was time for the khuti puja to begin. Everyone then went forward to hold the chosen bamboo pole upright. “I play the conch shell every year and also participate in conchshell-blowing competitions during puja,” said Gargi Dutta, doing the job on cue from the priest. Then it was time for pictures and prasad.

The occasion ended with an elaborate meal. By then the clouds had lifted, much to the cheer of the revellers.

Postscript: On the day, president Gopa Goswami had announced the theme for this year’s puja to be the Khowai haat of Birbhum district where rural folk sell traditional products from morning to night.

But last heard, the block is now considering dropping the theme and going for a traditional puja.

Shrija Bose

More khuti puja coverage next Friday