Here's to another year, staying miles away from Kolkata, during Durga Puja. Last year was the first time in my 23 years, I missed Durga Puja. Listening to the emotion-choked voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra on Mahalaya on you-tube from a far away land, just doesn't seem enough. That Kolkata frenzy is nowhere to be found.
Durga puja is incomplete without 'Notun-jama'(new-dresses) . This 'notun-jama' feeling of Pujo is something which only Bangalis will know. I was really sad, when my cousins in India were telling me about the number of dresses they have bought for this puja. But, just after a few days a FedEx guy knocks on my door with a big package.I was so happy to receive that, I knew my mom would send something. She sends me this with a cute note 'Pujote meye-jamai-er jonne' (for my daughter and son-in-law this Puja).
 |
| pujo gifts from Ma!! |
On Mahalaya, a friend of mine was asking me If I really miss Pujo from Probash, 'hell yeah, I do'... 'since my childhood I am used to waking up to the sounds of Birendra Krishna Bhadra from Panchami morning, and that doesn't happen here. She asked 'r bakita?' (and what about the rest? )
Yes, Houston celebrates Pujo in it's own big way. It's is celebrated in two places here. One is the Vedanta Society of Greater Houston. This year it was celebrated on 17th of October, Saturday, almost in the same week as Kolkata.The Pandal was set outside the temple and was decorated with flowers. Bengalis jump in to volunteer and work hard with the decoration of pandals, bhog and other pujo-ayojon (requirements). It felt great to volunteer for the Vedanta Society pujo, and somewhat made up for not being able to be in Kolkata.With Rabindra-sangeet, arati, and anjali the day was really well spent. I must say the Bhog was delicious.
 |
| Vedanta Society of Greater Houston |
 |
| Vedanta Society of Greater Houston |
The other grand celebration for four consecutive days happen in Houston Durga Bari.
This year while Kolkata's got done with Dasami, Houston Durga Bari welcomed Sasthi the same morning. You can never imagine the crowd of bangalis here in these four days. It's enoromous and unprecedented. Durga Bari becomes a mini-Kolkata for those four days. It welcomes more than 3000 visitors not only from Houston but also from Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. Puspanjali and arati are performed every puja days. There's something in the fervent beating of Dhaak and the hypnotizing haze of arati that brings goosebumps.
 |
| Houston Durga Bari |
Dhaaks were played by Shyamal Bhattacharya and few second generation Indian-American high school students.This definitely brought the Kolkata pujo feeling. Performances by Shampa Kundu and Bhoomi was wonderful.
 |
| Dhaak played by second generation kids |
 |
| Bhoomi |
Durga Pujo can never be complete without the food. Since we don't get a wide array of street foods in Houston like eggroll, chowmin and phuchka (panipuri), many bengalis come with phuchka, fish-fry, kochuri stalls here. The fish-fries were divine. I still have the taste lingering in my mouth.
All of a sudden, the tail of hurricane, Patricia in Houston, ruined the pujo for us. The Houston Durgabari committee was forced to shut down the evening puja on nabami. Though rains can never stop hujuge-bangali (overenthusiastic) from celebrating Durga puja.
Ostomi night was all about Jomie-adda at a friend's place. Dhunuchu nach and Sindoor khela also remained on the cards. With the immersion of Kola-bou in the nearby lake, shouts of 'Bolo Dugga mai ki' and 'asche bochor abar hobe' Pujo came to an end.
Special thanks to Vedanta Society and Durga Bari Committiee for all this.
 |
| Pujo '15 |
Labels: Durga Pujo, Houston, Houston Durga bari, Houston Durga Pujo 2015, Houstonlife, Vedanta Society
