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The Famous Durga Pooja of Kolkala

Ever wondered, why some festivals are famous for a particular city.

As per Wikipedia, "A festival is a special occasion of feasting or celebration, usually with a religious focus. Aside from religion, and sometimes folklore, another significant origin is agricultural. Food (and consequently agriculture) is so vital that many festivals are associated with harvest time."

Ever thought there is a city of festivals also? Yes. There is a city of festivals - Madhurai. Madurai is called the city of temples and festivals. Madurai is 10 hours from Chennai which is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. More than a 100 temples can be found in and around Madurai. In ancient times, Madurai was the capital of Pandya Dynasty. The kings of Pandya dynasty were very interested in development of Tamil literature and architectures. So for anyone who is passionate about beautiful sculptures, Madurai is the best place one should visit. Some of the famous temples in and around Madurai are Madurai Meenakshi Temple, Alagar Temple, Ellaimman Temple, etc. Madurai is also special for its food. Some of the best restaurants in Madurai are Hotel Amsavalli, Meenakshi Bhavan, Arya Bhavan, Hotel Taj, etc. As i said Madurai is the city of festivals, there are lots of celebration in the city. The best time to visit Madurai are the months of January to June.

Just like Madurai is famous religious place and hence most of the religious festivals are celebratd here. Similarly, Kolkata is known for its Grandly celebrated Durga pooja. Kolkata is also known as the city of Joy.

Durga Puja, held in September–October, is Kolkata's most important and largest festival -  it is an occasion for glamorous celebrations and artistic decorations. The Puja fever grips the heart of everyone in the city regardless of age, caste, class or gender. The entire state of West Bengal welcomes Goddess Durga and her children, along with the mighty demon Mahishasura, with open arms and hearts filled with incomprehensible emotions of togetherness.

The highlight of Durga Puja is no doubt visiting the many different displays (pandals) of Goddess Durga, each with a unique theme or decorative style. This activity is commonly referred to a "pandal hopping".The Kolkata streets constantly witness waves of darshanarthis or 'pandal-hopping pilgrims' dressed in the best possible way they can.

Pandal a temporary temple that houses Maa Durga and her children and where the pujas are held. There is competition every year on pandal making. and hence many Bengalis participate in the Pandal making. The Bengali's work year long to get the best pandal prize.

The most popular time for pandal hopping is in the night when they're lit up. Here i'm sharing some of my experience by the pics of the best pandals during the durga pooja i had experienced in 2018.

It has always been amazing to see how craftsmen shape the fantastic pandals (temporary marquees housing Maa Durga and her family) with bamboo, canvas and coloured cloth; there is no construction, imaginary or real, that they cannot give shape to. With the explosion of themes and the entry of artists and art school students, the pandals and the idols are cast from various things. The result? Kolkata turns into a virtual walk-through gallery. You will find large crowds moving across the city, enjoying the various pandals and their decorations.

A Pandal made up of Lanterns.

A Pandal made up of diffusers

Get ready for most jaw to drop at the vibrant colours with a theme of Modernism – a boon or a curse. At a time when rapid urbanisation has pushed Nature into the backseat, Devi Durga is arriving to restore the ecological balance.

Tridhara - A pandal with Scary and imaginary theme.

Several cultural programs are conducted on the Santhali culture of the state during the four days of Puja that has caught the attention enthusiast Puja loving crowd.

A Pandal made with Cane Baskets

A Pandal made up of Flower buds.

Decked up in what is considered to be her traditional outfit, the color schemes and intricate designs have played an important role in making it into such a wonderful work of art.

A Pandal made with fairy lights and sacred thread Kalava.

What’s even cooler is the fact that the Durga Idol here has overhauled the traditional and orthodox look and has settled for a more contemporary and modern look, complete with cold and dead serious eyes!

The entire area is illuminated with light during this time for the grand festival. The crowd flocks to this pandal break its own record every year. People come to see the sparkling lights works of the pandal and its mirror reflection on the lake water.

A Pandal made with Fancy Lights 

Boasting of a huge Lord Shiva idol, the theme this year is destruction & construction. It is believed that Lord Shiva took poison to save mankind and hence is the center of attraction for this theme.

A Pandal made up of hands

The Goddess of power and courage gleams in copper. #Masterpiece!

#Masterpiece!

A mesmerising view of 100 diya lit up on the 8 days long festival of durg pooja. A pandal decorated with kapoor lighting on coconut shells.

They celebrate Durga Puja with unparalleled enthusiasm. The Durga idol in the pandal is always elegant and spectacular.

Looks like an ancient art

A Pandal made up from rubber Mat

More than 250 years old, the Sovabazar Raj Barir Puja was started by Raja Nabakrishna Deb. Back in 1757 when the Durga Puja was started, even the Britishes used to come to adorn the whole ceremony. Till date, its complete pomp and show remains the same, and the puja is still celebrated with extreme enthusiasm. The specialty of this traditional family puja is that the they observe the “Mithaai Bhog” which comprises sweets placed in a ‘big thal’ (radius 3.5 feet) and offering them to Durga Maa. Mithaiwalas come all the way from Odisha bringing lip-smacking sweets for this customary offering.

In the whole cheer of this family celebration of Durga Puja in Kolkata, there is a lot that will catch your attention. The beautifully decorated Thakur dalan (courtyard), and the painted backdrop behind the Durga idol, which depicts the story of Devi and her incarnations, are simply stunning. Also, the Ved path is an important part of the puja.

The ancient Durga Puja rituals have been kept intact and followed with much dedication. Till date these house pujas see a number of devotees coming and being a part of the celebration from different parts of the city.

This is one of those pandals which portrays a blast of colors and lights, making the entire ambiance all the more special. The abstract and somewhat off-beat theme which is at display here has blended perfectly with the color palette and added to the amazing experience of visiting this place.

Pandal looks like Mysore palace, Mysore

The Durga Pratima is immensely beautiful in its red and white attire. The white stone jewellery of the idol makes it look absolutely stunning. This Puja Pandal has remained on the list of must watch this year for every pandal hopper.

A pandal decorated with Diya (Lamps)

Amazing theme of lights and Coirs surrounded with kalava

You can get the best cultural experience during the Durga pooja time by Dhunochi Nritya and Dhaaki Nach. These are the traditional dance forms to Durga Puja. It is usually performed by men holding a clay pot that is filled with burning incense sticks and coconut husk on the beats of drums. Pandal Hopping is famous in Kolkata. During this festival, peoples join in the groups to see the goddess Durga and Pandal decorations. Though Pandal hopping seems exhilarating and full of excitement, walking through the hundreds and thousands of people at night is not so easy.

A pub or a Pandal ? A pandal with a theme of Garden of bay, Singapore

A Pandal made up of cotton Thread rolls

 Kashi Bose Lane Durga Puja Committee of North Kolkata has themed ‘How music resonates in our lives and surroundings’ for this year. They have turned to the theme of music, which is the soul of the state. The Puja Pandal aims to reach out to the soul of music and spread it across the universe.

A Pandal made up of cane baskets

Pandal surfing is just a part of the celebration. You can visit artisans to watch them create these grand idols. The day on which the eyes of the idols are drawn is celebrated with rituals. You can buy your own Durga deity as a souvenir from the masters. The markets will be filled with souvenirs and rituals articles. Try to have some shopping experience in the street shops. Best place to visit is the stalls near major temples.

A pandal decorated by ladders and ancient wooden slippers

Looks like a scene from Happy Potter isn't it ? A pandal decorated with lanterns.

Streets of Kolkata

With advanced technology, the illumination has gone up several notches and even if you are not quite religious, you might still venture out in the streets to see these 'light' paintings all across town.

The spacious Jodhpur Park pandal is one of the biggest in south Kolkata. Its themes have been vast and varied, with some years more traditional than others. In 2014, it went hi-tech. The idol was created out of biodegradable materials by a 3D printer, which makes three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. It was the first of its kind in the world.

A clay Pandal.

A Pandal with womb theme.

Rather than fight the crowd, I let myself be gently led from one pandal to another and was never disappointed by where the blob took me. The energy was enormous. After a full 13 hours of pandal hopping, I felt like I finally understood the festival that was once such an enigma to me and during the immersion of the idols in the Hoogley River two days later, couldn’t help but feel a little sad to see Maa Durga go.

An Unwanted Guest

A little of this, and a little of that
Sitting in the loneliness of the coffee table
With a confused mind and increased heartbeat,
waiting for an unwanted guest.

It’s uncomfortable, to speak to someone new, someone u know nothing about.
Still, we wanted to know each other.

"Will he be good to me.. How does he look ? tall, short, fat?
How does he sound like.. gruff masculine voice or maybe a soft spooky voice...!!
Will he like my company... Will he say I'm too cubby?
Does he has a nice smile.
Maybe, maybe . . . 

And lastly but not the least...

Is he the dream boy, I dream about ?"

I tell myself.
But my heart is a cynical hermit who frowns once, then shuts the door of his room.

Sometimes the greatest adventure is,

simply a conversation over a cup of coffee, without any expectations.

We sat on the coffee table, not knowing what to talk...
We looked into each other's eyes, and we knew, we had a lot to say and ask to each other.
But we had no words.

Its was now time to say goodbye, in a hope to never meet again.

He surprised me when he warped his soft arms,

around me and covered me, making me feel used.

Its was now time to wait for another unwanted guest.

Love is the only emotion that I truly hate

This is a poem, on my experience of a bitter love...

The very first day i saw him sitting on the stairs.

It's a feeling I'll never forget.

I was trapped in love with him.

But can he pretend to love me too ?

He became my favorite hello,
And he was my hardest goodbye.

He was the one who never made me cry,
And he was the one who puts that sparkle in my eye.

He was the one whom i truly loved,

And he was the one who filled my heart.

He was one who's always there to hold me in the dark.

He was the fire, and i was cold for my whole life.

All the experiences that we've shared,
I knew right away that he was rare.

He was a perfect person for a life to be shared with.

He had my heart and i didn't wanted it back.

He said marry me, and i knew he was all mine.

but...

He went so far away, that i don't know what to do,

I spent my days and nights thinking about him.

I called him every now and then, days and night, but

i wanted to be with him.

Years later...

I trusted him when he told me it wasn't true,
I didn't know that behind those beautiful eyes
was a person capable of telling all these lies.

I wish those things had never happened.
It feels as though my love's been abandoned.

Where on earth did I go wrong ?

In the beginning we couldn't get enough of one another. 

Our hands were always glued.

but now....

we stared into each others eyes.

A thousand memories flooded in, but with a painful smile.

And I knew he was not mine anymore.

I told myself I'm not gonna be hurt, 

But why its deeply makes me burn.

All I wanted was to make him happy,
So why is it that I have to feel so crappy?

Loving someone is so easy, but letting them go is hell crazy
But i have to let him go, for my love for him is true.
I don't have any regret after all
Maybe it's just not the right time, for him to be mine...

Even if you no longer love me,
I will always love you.

Of all the emotions a person can feel,
Love is scariest and hardest to heal,

We long for a connection that is as strong as it is true,
But love always does as love wants to do,
Love captains your emotions and steers your fate,
Love is the only emotion that I truly hate.

Trip to Gokarna

My journey starts from the the silicon valley of India(Bangalore) to the most beautiful place of north karnataka, Gokarna.

If Goa is too far or expensive, then Gokarna is the next best option to experience the sun, sand, and sea without burning a hole in your pocket.😉

Gokarna, is a temple town in north Karnataka. There are a several beaches in and around gokarna, which makes it a nice getaway from the stressful life and heavy traffic of bangalore. 

Gokarna means cow's ear. It is believed that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow here. It is at the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers Gangavali and Aghanashini. As per legend, Ravana was given Atmalinga by Lord Shiva and instructed that it would stay permanently where it is first placed on the land. But Lord Ganesha came in the form of a boy and planted it in Gokarna while Ravana was performing rituals. Once placed Ravana could not remove it from ground, but he removed some pieces of the Linga and threw them in different directions. Because of this wonderful power, he called the shiva linga as Mahabala, one with great strength, and ever since, the linga illustrious as Mahabaleshwara.

ApsaraKonda Waterfalls

I'm a Photographer and my Journey started early morning from Apsarakonda falls which is around 60kms from Gokarna. Set in a small village named Apsarakonda in Honnavar taluk of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka the waterfall possesses enthralling beauty. The waterfall descends from a height of about 50 feet to a natural pond formed below it. The place is as famous for the sparkling waterfall. Indeed, the beauty of the waterfall is so charming that one tends to believe that the place was the preferred bathing spot of the angels. The crystal clear water allures people to enter the pond and enjoy a relaxing bath. The base of the waterfall can be reached by climbing down a trail of a few hundred feet. The trail of Apsarakonda Falls is ideal for those trekkers who prefer to enjoy a trail without much difficulty. Steps have been built to make the trail easier for the public. The Tourism Department has beautified the place to increase its attraction and to make it easier for people to reach down to the waterfall.

Photography by Deepalee Khare

We future continued our journey to reach Kudle Beach, Gokarna and found a shack to dump our luggage. We stayed at this place called 'Mahaganapathi cottages'. Decent enough for the price (700/-) don't expect fancy rooms and amenities as everything is very basic. Nothing to do other than enjoy the awesome beach,swim and just laze around,watch the gorgeous sunset.We had taken the huts with attached washrooms. The rooms were basic - granite slab for a bad with a small cotton mattress - just wide enough to fit two adults. If you get bugged by the bugs and the creepy crawlies, this place is not for you.

The food was good and the ambiance of the place was outstanding in the evening. You can enjoy a nice chilled beer in the afternoon and some super tasty food.

AnticlockWise from Top: Gobi Manchurian, Special Seafood Noodles, Shaklab Dessert

  

The beach is an absolute bliss when you see the golden bell trying its best to make the sky and the earth meet. and that's the best moment. Though there is an alert on taking a bath into the sea here, still you can spend some time with waves close to the sea shore in a setting twilight of sun and get relax. I love to enjoy my sunset in privacy.

Sunset at Kudle Beach

We travelled to Mahabaleshwara temple in the night, where we have to dip our hand inside a hole to touch the AtmaLinga.The temple has beautiful spiritual energies. and everyone should experience it.

Photography by Deepalee Khare

We then came back to Kudle beach, and spent the night on the sea shore looking at the sparkling water, and the moon.
Then endless stories of the night are yours.
Happiness here is sought in simple things, like lying down on the sand and hearing the gushing sound of waves, looking up at the stars sparkling in the sky. The moon would be shining in your city as well, the same stars will be twinkling above your head back home. But it's an overwhelming feeling looking at them from here. I suddenly realised that life is lived in these little moments, not in the cubicles around you. There's nothing quite like looking up at the night sky to make you realise how small and insignificant you really are, and how grateful you should be for your life. Seeing the moon reflected in the water was something that I will never forget.

Photography by Deepalee Khare

The morning is always beautiful, but here its very gorgeous. the chirping of birds the sounds of water crashing the rocks. its just so beautiful.

Photography by Deepalee Khare

Photography by Deepalee Khare

Photography by Deepalee Khare

After a good breakfast of aloo paratha, we prepared for our exploration of Gokarna’s popular beaches. We decided to trek from Kudle Beach to Om Beach, the trek was 20mins long and quite simple, but the scenic beauty is so beautiful.

Trek to Om Beach

Photography by Deepalee Khare

I just stood there for some time, imagined how cool it would be if I had a house up here.

Voila ! we reached Om Beach.

Om Beach is by far the most popular beach in Gokarna. Mostly because of its distinct shape like that of the Hindu religious symbol "OM" from where it gets its name. 

This is one of the best beaches in Gokarna, mainly because the beach is quiet clean and has good number of eat outs.. I found many foreigners in the sea with families and enjoying swim. 

There are several water sports here like jet ski, banana ride, bumper ride etc. for playing all the sports the cost is around 1200 for 3 rides. I had a lot a fun, specially in the banana ride, where u can swim in the mid waters in a depth of around 50ft., the experience is amazing.

You can also take a boat from here to paradise beach and Half-Moon Beach (if you are lucky enough, u can also see dolphins)😇

We could see a path in the distance at the end of Om Beach, so we decided to just keep on walking. The trekking experience is awesome. 

Once we reached the end of Om Beach, we began our ascend once again. We started our trek, walking beside the beach enjoying the view. As you climb higher, you’ll get a great view of Om Beach. Walk up further and stop & stare out into the beauty of the Arabian sea. The terrain was a mix of beach walk and hills. The best thing was that the trek trail had the best mix of beaches and hills.

After some time, we finally reached the Half-Moon beach. The waves were high and we could see a beautiful view of the beach and the mountains from here. We were completely surrounded by beach on one side, mountains on the other two sides.

We were very tired, so planned to trek back to Om Beach, and have some lunch at Namaste Cafe. Non veg and sea food is what they excel at. The cafe is right on the OM beach and offers a good view from 1st floor.

Nameste Cafe

20-storied Gopura at Murudeshwara Temple

We travelled from Gokarna to Murudeshwara, which is around 80kms from Gokarna. Murdeshwar is another name of the Hindu god Shiva. Famous for the world's second tallest Shiva statue, the town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwar Temple. The linga is believed to be a piece of the original Atma Linga and is about two feet below ground level. This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is dedicated to Sri Lokankara, and a 20-storied Gopura is constructed at the temple. The temple authorities have installed a lift that provides a breath-taking view of the 123-feet Sri Shiva idol from the top of the Raja gopura.

Murdeshwara Temple, Gokarna

Top View of Murudeshwara Temple

Top View of the busy city of Murudeshwara

At the end of the trip, we had dinner near Maravante beach, one of my favorite beach where the road passes between the river and the ocean. And also it's the most cleanest beach.

And the time ended so fast, that we fell asleep in the cab and reached bangalore the next morning with a lot of memories.

And so here my trip ends and I will be soon back with my next trip experiences. 😄