MUMBAI
Durga puja is easily the biggest festival for Bengalis. So, it’s not surprising that they spend much effort and resources to ensure that it is celebrated in style.
Some neighbourhoood groups appoint specialists to plan, design and work out the celebrations. Some prominent pandals even hire the services of artisans all the way from West Bengal to craft idols of the goddess on her leonine mount.
Commonly, the groups appoint priests of Bengali origin who will ensure the customs and traditions. But one of the organisers has been bringing the pujaris too, from West Bengal.
“We have three pujaris who are senior and have been doing the puja for the past 15 years. There is no hard and fast rule to get priests from Bengal, but we bring them to help us preserve the traditions since they are well-versed with them,” said Soumitra Banerjee, president, Durga Bari Samiti Trust. The trust, which is oldest in the city conducting the Durga Puja, will spend about Rs30,000 on the travel and stay of the priests in the city.
Banerjee gave an example of the benefit of having these priests. “They bring along with them Ganga matti and know when the puja to be performed is special, like the Sandhi Puja that is conducted between Ashtami and Mahanavmi,” he said.
“Sandhi Puja is the time when Durga maa looks at the earth from heaven. We have always heard about this since childhood and that is why we have this occasion,” said UK Mukhopadhyay, president of the Bengal Club, which organises the Shivaji Park Durga Puja. The club also relies on pujairs from Bengal who have been conducting the puja at their Kali temple.
Supriyo Lahiry, spokesperson of the Powai Bengali Welfare Association, said that the priests also guide the organisers in the singing and cooking. “It’s not just the Sandhi Puja. Even the Agamani songs, the Pran Pratishthan and special food cooked for the goddess by ladies who are trained for this work, is done under the supervision of pujaris,” said Lahiry.
“These traditions are followed in Bengal and the priests help us to stay in tune with them. Having Sindoor Khela on the last day and offering sweets to maa before the visarjan is done in a very special way by Bengalis,” he explained. The puja organised by the association is conducted by a Bengali priest who lives in the city. The practice has been going on for nearly a decade now.
Viral video: Little girl's adorable dance to 'Ghani Bawri' wins hearts online, watch
Meet woman, sub-inspector's daughter who cracked UPSC exam in first attempt, Tina Dabi is her...
IND vs SA: Sanju Samson equals Rohit Sharma's massive feat, becomes Indian batter with most...
IND vs SA: Sanju Samson's century guides India to 61-run win over South Africa, lead series 1-0
DNA TV Show: Loudspeaker controversy erupts ahead of Maharashtra Polls
Another masterstroke by Mukesh Ambani, set to challenge Haldiram, Britannia
IND vs SA, 1st T20I: Sanju Samson creates history in Durban, becomes first Indian player to....
Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli make heads turn in Mumbai, watch
J-K: Police recover bodies of two village defence guards killed in Kishtwar terror attack
Bengaluru-Chennai expressway to slash travel time to 3 hours: 71-km stretch to open on...
Amid Champions Trophy row, India to face arch-rivals Pakistan on THIS date
BIG move by Gautam Adani, as Adani Power cuts Bangladesh supply by over 60% due to...
PM Modi attacks Congress in Nashik rally, says party wants to create rift among OBCs
Health Insurance Claim Process: A Step-by-Step guide
Ali Haider emerges as a young, driven digital disruptor with ConnectPR
ACIBADEM LabMed Laboratories ensures high standards in medical testing
THIS is world's highest-valued currency, not dollar, pound, euro
'Forgive me if...’: Justice DY Chandrachud's final message as Chief Justice of India
Watch: KL Rahul's brain fade leads to bizarre dismissal in India A vs Australia A match
Meme fest erupts after Biden delivers speech with smiling face, netizens say, 'He voted for Trump'
Viral video: Netizens react in shock as woman washes hair with toxic foam from Yamuna river, watch
How Trump’s ‘America First’ policy opens doors for India’s regional power
42-year-old retired player breaks silence on registering for IPL, says, 'I have never...'
'Main pairon mein gir gaya': Virat Kohli recalls memorable encounter with Sachin Tendulkar - Watch
Is kala namak really a detox? Shalini Passi swears by this simple health hack
BIG blow to Mukesh Ambani, as Reliance Industries loses over Rs 4 lakh crore in...
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph suspended for two ODIs; here's why
Himachal CM Sukhu's samosas, cakes served to security staff; CID probe on
'Conspiracy against Kashmir': PM Modi slams NC-Cong's Article 370 resolution
Meet Tamanna Bharat, who is all set to represent India at Miss Asia Global 2024 in Kerala
Bengaluru coconut vendor's viral ad challenges Zepto, Blinkit prices, netizen says 'let him cook'
Vvan: Sidharth Malhotra drops motion poster of folk mythological thriller, Kiara Advani reacts
Virat Kohli gets embarrassed as crowd sings 'Happy Birthday to you' in live event, WATCH viral video
Gym and fitness is all about overall health, not just good looks: BigMuscles Nutrition’s Suhel Vats
Station master's phone call with ex-wife led to Rs 3 crore loss to railways, know how
Uproar in J-K Assembly as BJP members protest over special status resolution
Aligarh Muslim University entitled to minority status under Article 30: SC
Collaborative global response a must to combat climate change effectively: Dr Sanju Purohit
Viral: Man rants about his GenZ colleague's leave to heal from breakup, gets trolled
Splitsvilla, Crime Petrol-fame actor Nitin Chauhaan passes away at 35 allegedly by suicide
Worrying signs for Mukesh Ambani's Rs 840960 crore company? Elon Musk will push Donald Trump to...
Have Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma moved back to Mumbai? Here's what we know
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani are fond of these five dishes which cost Rs...
Meet Indian-origin Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, who could be Donald Trump's likely pick for CIA Chief
Donald Trump's second term worries Elon Musk's transgender daughter, says....
Meet IAS officer, who was a disabled bangle seller, cracked UPSC exam, is now serving in...
Meet IAS officer, who is nemesis of criminals, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 36, she is...
SC to pronounce verdict on Aligarh Muslim University's minority status today
Happy Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones
Viral video: Woman's sensual dance to 'namak' sets internet on fire, watch
SA vs IND, 1st T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report
SA vs IND, 1st T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for South Africa vs India match
Meet man who is set to lead Truecaller, not from IIT, IIM, earlier served Vice President of...
DNA TV Show: Why Pakistan worried about a Donald Trump presidency