Bengalis, Gujaratis celebrate Durga Puja in Silk City

Adi Shakti Tara Tarini near Berhampur, Odisha

BERHAMPUR: They are living far away from their homelands. But, Bengali and Gujarati settlers of Berhampur have been celebrating Durga Puja in their traditional way for years. The Bengalis started celebrating puja for the first time in the Silk City around 79 years ago.  "Durga Puja is an integral part of Bengali culture. We celebrate the autumn festival wherever we reside," said A K Sarkar, president of Adi Durga Puja Committee in the town. The rituals started on Sunday. "As we started the Durga Puja in the town for the first time, we named it Adi (first) Durga Puja," said Narayan Saha, a member of the Bengali community. Some Bengali employees of the erstwhile Bengal-Nagpur Railway organized the first Durga Puja of the community in the railway station area in 1932.

The Bengalis have already established a permanent pandal at Chatterjee Lane, near Old Bus Stand in Barracks. "We have been celebrating the puja on the pandal since 1938," said Ashok Kumar Jana, a member of the puja committee. "Not only Bengali families in the town but also people of other faiths gather here during the puja," said Deepa Rani Chakladar, a Bengali. It's also an occasion for a get-together of all Bengali families in the town. A large chunk of Bengali families are living in the Silk City. "Even though we are living away from Bengal, we are not alienated from the Bengali culture," said P K Sarkar, secretary of the committee. Priests and artists to make the idol are brought from West Bengal. "Our aim is to keep the tradition alive," said Susanta Ghose, another Bengali.

Similarly, Gujaratis celebrate Navaratri too. Gujarati girls perform "Garaba raj" and "Dandia" dances during the period. "We celebrate the festival in our traditional manner even though we have settled here since long," said Naresh Vagheal, a Gujarati the community which has a strong presence in the city.

Source: Times of India

Source: The Sambad