Bengali Cultural Association,
Noida Sector 62 Durga Puja
History of Bengali Cultural Association, Noida Sector 62
Uttar Pradesh is a true 21st Century creation. Housing Societies started sprouting here and there and by year 2001, it looked like a skeleton. There were hardly proper roads and construction material sprayed all over and the noise of concrete mixers provided a monotonous music in the atmosphere. With this background walked in a few Bengalis; who got early possession of their houses in some societies which were completed or partly completed. It was almost end of 2001 when this small group moved into Srijan Apartments, all from PDIL. They were M/S Shekhar Chandra Sen Sharma, Atanu Chakraborty, Dhiman Dutta, S Chattaraj & Proshanto Mukherjee. Mr. Sen Sharma who was earlier living in Vasundhara Enclave had been Secretary of Local Association and was already experienced in organizing Durga Puja there. Having shifted base the idea remained with him and the small team started discussing and exploring the possibility of organizing a Puja in Sector 62.
The idea took roots thick and fast and Bengali hunting started. No one knew anyone else living in a few more Apartments that existed by 2002. In this half deserted mini township, gradually acquaintances were established through deep exploration and soon M/S Debashish Chatterjee, Kalyan Dey, U. K. Ray, Ujjwal Bhattacharya, Nabendu Lodh, Gautam Roy, Samir Mukherjee, Subroto Bose, Mukul Mitra and T. Bandopadhyay (first highest collector) were traced and the team suddenly became strong with about 15 to 20 members.
Durga Puja is close to every Bengali’s heart and the idea was accepted immediately by everybody. A skeleton Committee was formed and the first of the Sector 62 Durga Puja was launched. A budget of Rs. 70000/- (Seventy Thousand Only) was estimated and approved but as the collection process started the bag was full with Rs. 3 Lakhs (Three Lakhs). It was nothing but Ma Durga’s blessings and one can easily imagine the elevated spirit of the unnamed Committee. Thus the first Durga Puja in Sector 62 was celebrated in year 2002 at a small park adjacent to Nirupam Vatika with great pomp and show. BCA was subsequently registered as an organization in year 2003.
Puja was a grand success and a huge encouragement for the few members. The small function soon attracted many more new faces and the committee started bulging. After the first Puja in this park, the venue was shifted to the Tot Mall Park to accommodate big arrangements and larger crowd. Soon the Durga Puja became the Centre of attraction for the community in Sector 62 and the cultural activities broadened and engagement of people multiplied.
Durga Puja continued to be organized in the Tot Mall Park for 11 years consecutively but had to be shifted to B Block Park due to conversion of the playground into a garden. This will be the thirteenth year of celebration and with a strong membership base of more than two hundred families. Many Patrons pitched in and fund collection drive was innovated. The committee will always be grateful to these selfless promoters. It is needless to say that the Noida Authorities extended all the help from time to time and they deserve our profuse thanks. Today the Durga Puja is the only single largest annual social event in Sector 62.
Bengali Cultural Association (BCA) is a ‘No Profit No Loss’ Socio Religious Cultural Association mooted with the objective of spreading the Bengali Traditions and culture amongst the entire community irrespective of where they belong. While Durga Puja is celebrated in a large scale, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja are also celebrated with full rituals and devotion. The Pujas are celebrated with a view to keeping the mythological values, written in various scriptures, fresh in the minds of the new generation; accompanied by the joy of festivities through various cultural activities organized during the Puja days. This is also an effort to integrate the society at large and remind them about the rich traditions our ancestors had. Cultures are easily absorbed by people when packaged with fun, frolic, prayers, fasting, pious ceremonies, eateries, exhibitions, cultural programs, competitions, shopping and thus the engagement is severe. Many people literally weep after the celebrations are over; so much is the involvement.
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the Full Moon day after the Vijaya Dashami. Many communities celebrate Lakshmi Puja during Dipawali. In Bengali culture Kali Puja is celebrated during Dipawali. The story behind this is that Ma Kali destroyed all powerful Rakhshasas (Demons) blessed with lots of boons and liberated the heaven for ever from the clutches of the evil powers. Saraswati Puja is celebrated during the Spring Season (Basant) when the mother earth is calm and soothing and is also known as Basant Panchami to many communities. Ma Saraswati is known to be Goddess of Knowledge and small children are inducted into formal scribbling in front of the Devi by the priests or by elders. This is considered to be auspicious. In Bengali it is called “Haate Khori”. Books are also kept at the feet of the Goddess. All the above Pujas are celebrated in various forms in different parts of our country by different community but the key theme everywhere is ‘Shakti’. Ma Durga is depicted in her glorious persona killing “Mahishasura”, the most evil Demon, with the trident in her hand. Bengali tradition of Durga Puja is weaved around Ma Parvati’s entire family since Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha are known to be her children according to mythology. Thus beneath one canopy; wealth, knowledge, beauty and wisdom are also worshipped. Durga Puja is the biggest festival for Bengalis yet millions of Non Bengali devotees join the Puja with equal fun and flair. Bengali style of worshipping is a mix of “Shakti & Peace”. Durga Puja is a family Puja and creates a great bond within the family as well as the community and showers a message of love for each other. Vijaya Dashami is the last day of Puja and the day has many stories of its being but for Bengalis, this is the day of bidding farewell to the Goddess who returns to her eternal abode along with her family. The time before the immersion is dedicated to married women who play vermilion with each other seeking blessings from Goddess to bestow long life to their spouse and family. This in Bengali is known as “Sindur Khela”. In the evening people exchange good wishes by hugging each other and celebrate by exchanging sweets which continues for many days. The reverberating sound of Dhaak (a special drum used in Bengal) and sound of conk shell dominates the Puja days and creates a tremendous emotional bonding amongst the Bengalis.
An extremely dedicated BCA Executive Committee tirelessly works year after year, joined by many volunteers; to make the celebration flawless and enjoyable; to the minutest detail. Many selfless Patrons contribute generously and they deserve our highest gratitude as without them the scale of Durga Puja will remain miniscule and probably a non event. Many more sponsors are showing interest in actively providing funds through various schemes of sponsorship and we welcome and thank them from the bottom of our heart. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Noida Administration for extending support year after year.
Traditionally Bengalis buy new clothes and get rid of old ones; and can easily be identified in the mob. One will be astonished to see the crowds pouring over the merchandize brought for special sale from all over the country and even from Bangladesh during these days. Hence this is a great opportunity for the merchants to earn good money. Wearing new clothes also signifies leaving old pains and agonies and start life with gaiety once again.
We have a vision to include all communities to participate in the grandeur of the Pujas so that the Pujas become a truly socio religious cultural event for all. We appeal to all communities to come and join us by taking membership and actively participate in the evolution of the celebration. We intend to create a United Sector 62 and exhibit a national responsibility of equality amongst all. All readers are welcome at our Pandal in Sector 62, B Block Park this year and take Ma Durga’s blessings.
Durga Puja – Background
Ma Durga epitomizes “Shakti” and nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during Navratri. The nine forms are Durga, Amba (Jagadamba), Annapoorna, , Bhairavi, Chandi (Chandika), Bhavani, Mookambika, Bhadrakali, and Sarvamangala not necessarily in this order. She is also known by several other names like Bhawani, Basanti, Tara, Sati and Jagadhatri. To explain it a little more she is Bhawani, the symbol of life; she is Sati, the object of death; she is Basanti the heralder of spring and in the mightiest form she is Durga, the ten armed weapon carrying female form, the destroyer of evil. She is also the mother of bounty and wealth, beauty and knowledge in the form of Parvati and her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh. All these Gods and Goddesses are worshipped in different seasons and by different communities in different ways.
If one has to understand the Shiva and Durga relationship, Durga is the doer of all actions which Shiva plans by emission of infinite energy through Durga. Durga is the manifestation of Shiva’s cosmic deeds who otherwise is motionless and involved into his eternal Samadhi. Durga is the energy of Shiva and Shiva is the body of Durga, both have no existence without each other. The Sanskrit meaning of Durga is Fort and thus is inaccessible. Durga, also called Divine Mother, is believed to protect mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger and ego. Thus the Durga Puja becomes so important to Hindus. Indian mythology is basically a philosophy that induces people to focus on these evils and vow to eliminate them by worshipping the Goddess, expecting salvation and purification of mind and soul.
According to some mythologies, Durga exists as the skin of Parvati that peels off whenever evil has to be destroyed. This probably relates her to Shiva more ominously. Durga though exists in female form but she with the blessings of all Gods assumes the powers of all male Gods.
Mahishasura, a demon earned the favour of lord Shiva through long and severe penance. Lord Shiva, pleased with the devotion of the demon, blessed him with a boon that no man or deity would be able to kill him. Empowered with the boon, Mahishasura started his reign of terror over the Universe and people were killed mercilessly. He even attacked the abode of the Gods. The war between Gods and demons lasted a hundred years, in which Mahishasura was the leader of the Asuras or demons and Indra was the chief of the Gods. In this battle the army of the Gods was defeated by the powerful demons. When Mahishasura conquered the gods, he became their leader.
Gods prayed to Shiva and panic struck approached Brahma, the creator of universe. Brahma took Gods to Shiva and Vihnu. On hearing the dastardly act of Mahishasur and his demon army, pure energy dissipated from Brhama, Vishnu and Shiva in the form of a divine light that concentrated at one point and took the shape of Goddess Durga in a female form. Simultaneously the divine energy of all Gods also merged into the fierce light. Her face was from the light of Shiva, her ten arms were from Vishnu and her feet from Brahma. Mythology keeps on telling that the tresses were formed from the light of Yama (god of death) and the two breasts were formed from the light of Moon, the waist from the light of Indra (the king of gods), the legs and thighs from the light of Varun (god of oceans), and hips from the light of Bhoodev (Earth), the toes from the light of Surya (Sun God), fingers of the hand from the light of the Vasus (the children of Goddess river Ganga) and nose from the light of Kuber (the keeper of wealth for the Gods). The teeth were formed from the light of Prajapati (the lord of creatures), the Triad of her eyes was born from the light of Agni (Fire God), the eyebrows from the two Sandhyas (sunrise and sunset), the ears from the light of Vayu (god of Wind). Thus from the energy of these gods, as well as from many other gods, was formed the goddess Durga.
The gods then gifted the goddess with their weapons and other divine objects to help her in her battle with the demon, Mahishasura. Lord Shiva gave her a trident while Lord Vishnu gave her a disc. Varuna, gave her a conch and noose, and Agni gave her a spear. From Vayu, she received arrows. Indra, gave her a thunderbolt, and the gift of his white-skinned elephant Airavata was a bell. From Yama, she received a sword and shield and from Vishwakarma (god of Architecture), an axe and armor. The god of mountains, Himavat gifted her with jewels and a lion to ride on. Durga was also given many other precious and magical gifts, new clothing, and a garland of immortal lotuses for her head and breasts. Thus she became a symbol of fierce beauty.
Having equipped with all these, Durga trampled the universe and marched to the heaven. The reverberation soon was felt by Mahisashura and his demon army. She finished the demons with her might in no time and had the power to replenish her soldiers from her breath. Mahisashur was scared, shocked and enraged and decided to engage with Durga by assuming the form of a fierce buffalo. Mahisashur assumed many features but could not escape the wrath of Durga who ultimately threw him on the ground with her left leg, grasped his head in one hand, pierced him with her trident held in another and beheaded him with her sword held in yet another hand.
Durga’s tale continued in her various forms. She killed Chanda and Munda the two generals of Shumbha and Nishumbha who also ruled the heaven. This time she took the form of Kali. In Shumbha and Nishumbha’s army there was a demon called Raktabeeja. A drop of blood falling from his body will produce many more Raktabeejas. Kali swallowed Raktabeeja and ended the reproduction process. After this Shumbha and Nishumbha also were killed and another evil was destroyed. Killing of Chanda and Munda the two powerful of the asuras, gave Kali the name Chamunda. This is how many tales are narrated explaining how Goddess Durga wiped out the Asuras and brought peace in the heaven.
Durga is also seen as Sati (Uma) and Parvati, the two consorts of Lord Shiva but at different times. All three are worshipped at different times and in different contexts but are different body forms of Durga only.
Sati (Uma) was the first-born daughter of king Daksha, one of the prime ancestors of mankind. Sati, right from her childhood, started worshipping Lord Shiva as her would-be husband. Shiva, being pleased with the worship of Sati, came to marry her. Daksha did not like this tiger-skin clad groom with ash and dirt over all of his body. Sati however got married to Shiva against her father's wishes. King Daksha, later on, arranged for a yagna (worshipping a holy fire) where everyone except Shiva was invited. Sati, despite Shiva's objections went to attend the yagna and was subsequently subjected to insulting remarks made by her father. Not being able to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself in sacrificial fire. Hearing this news Shiva flew in a rage and reached there with his blazing trident and destroyed the sacrificial altar and beheaded king Daksha. Then, lifting up Sati's body, he started his violent dance, Tandava -the dance of destruction. This shook the entire universe violently and terrified the entire creation. Seeing this Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra (divine disc) to cut off Sati's body into pieces while Shiva held on to it and kept dancing. As the last of her pieces fell from Shiva's shoulder, he was finally pacified. Shiva then restored life to Daksha using a goa
