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Traditional Family Pujas |
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In this section we would like to give you a glimpse of what goes on inside the traditional family Pujas .Here are some contributions from some famous families. BOSU PARIVAR OF HOWRAH A HERITAGE OF TWO HUNDRED YEARS HOWRAH RAMKRISHNAPUR BOSE BARIR DURGAPUJA The
ancestral Durga Puja of Howrah Ramkrishapur Bose Family is about two
hundred Years
old. It is one of the oldest family Durga Puja in West Bengal, known
for its Solemnity,
strict adherence to Sastric in junctions, rites and observance of
age-old family Traditions.
The Puja was started in the early years of the Nineteenth Century by
Esan Chandra Bose in his village home in Singti Sibpur, situated a
few miles from the city of Thousands
of people, men women and children, come to have a Darshan and
make offering to MA DURGA during the Puja days. To them She
is a living Goddess. The Divine
Mother’s blessings must be sought for the welfare, peace and
happiness of their families.
Ramkrishnapur Bose Barir Durga puja has the character of a Barwari
(community) Puja. Though a family Puja, the Thakur Dalan and
the spacious courtyard
are thronged
by devotees during Puja, Arati and the Sandhi Puja.On Vijaya
Dashami evening the image is carried on shoulders to the bank of
the sacred river Ganga in a colourful procession of family members ,
friend and numerous people of the locality. Before the procession
stars, Ma Durga and all other members of her family are given
a heart-warming touching send of by the ladies of the family. This
is known as Baran.
After immersion, late in the evening, all the family members,
relatives and friendsReassemble at the Thakur Dalan The Durga
Puja of the Ramkrishnapur Bosu Parivar has certain time-bound
features, not un common in traditional family Pujas. After Visarjan
(immersion) the wooden structure(Med) is brought back. The next year
new images are built by the potters on the same structure. Every
year sacred soil is brought ceremoniously from the Ganga river bed (Ganga
matti) on Nandatsova day (the day after Janmasthami)
The potters commence their work by symbolically using the sacred
Ganga matti. The faces of the images are made every year using the
same moulds. The dresses and decorations are almost identical
every year
.The porters have been coming from the same family for generations.
The drummers (Dhakis and Dhulis) have also been coming from
the same family for generations. The priests also came from same
families till recently. But new priests had to be found as the old
family of priests either had no male heirs or were not willing to
take up family profession of priesthood. The Puja actually commences
from the Pratipad, the day after Mahalaya. Durga Puja is a national festival in Bengal. It is also an occasion for family reunion. That spirit permeates the extended Bosu Parivar during the Puja days and touches all who come to the Thakur Dalan and court-yard of the Bose’s of Ramkrishnapur. Nemai Sadhan Bose 20/9/2000 94, Ramkrishnapur Lane Howrah - 711 102 Phone: 660 3476ss
Sova Bazar Rajbari Raja Nabakrishna Deb started this Puja way back in the year 1757.
The preparations for the Durga Puja at Sovabazar Rajbari start from
the day of Ulta Rath with the auspicious Kathamo Pujo. The idol is
built inside the Pathshala adjoining the premises. Bodhan, which
signifies the official commencement of the festival, is done 15days
before the Maha Nabami with a Devi Ghat. On this very day also
begins the recitation of Vedic Sutras by 15 brotee Brahmins which The Seal Family Of Chorbagan History of Chorbagan Seal family and its Doorga Puja .
The
founder of Chorbagan Seal family is Babu
Ram Chand Seal. He
was a member of famous Seal family of Gutiabazar of Hooghly. He
was born He was
a great devotee of his Gurudev. At the inspiration of his second
wife, Khatramani Dassi initially he The main feature of Doorga Puja of Seal family is the devotion to Goddess Doorga and others. The puja is performed traditionally even now by following the rituals of old days and by following "Brihanandikeshar Puran". Seal families being the follower of Vaisnab philosophy no sacrifice of goat or any other animal or even the fruits are offered. The
construction of image starts on the auspicious day of Rathajatra
in the month of June/July each year. The formal marketing for
puja articles starts on Radhastami day in the month of Another famous traditional religious function of Seal family is Dolutasav of its family deity Radha Damodar Jew which too is celebrated for 144 years. Nabobrindaban Kouri Family
Srimani Bari Sukhia Street
Barik Parivar Manicktolla
Rathin Ghosh Manicktolla
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Howrah. Esan Chandra Bose founded the E.C BOSE & COMPANY in
1851. It is the oldest stevedoring company in the port of
Calcutta. E.C. Bose had started constructing a palatial building in
Howrah some years earlier. The Puja was transferred to the
magnificent Thakur Dalan of the building and is being held
there since then.
for
receiving Santir Jal from a priest, which symbolizes A
collective prayer for peace in families, peace all- around in every
sphere of life and nature. At the end everyone is treated with
sweets. Greetings are exchanged, respect is shown to the elders. The
festival comes to an end with a touch of sadness.
The invocation (Bodhan)of
Durga begins from that day. Holding of
Durga Puja, adhering to elaborate rituals and socio-religious
commitments, is a stupendous responsibility for the family. It
requires ever-increasing financial as well as man-power. Majilpur(a
village in South 24-Parganas) since the early years of the last
century.
continues till Maha Sashthi. On Maha Sashthi the Durga Pratima is
adorned with golden ornaments and the Devi Ghat is installed in
front of the idol. The Pratima is decorated with the traditional
Daker Saaj. On Maha Saptami the 'Kala Bou' is taken for the
ritualistic Nabapatrika Snan. Earlier Scotch Highlanders from Fort
William were hired to accompany the procession to the Ghat. With an
aim not to disrupt this tradition, till this day the Band parties of
Harrison Road are hired for the occasion. Sandhi Puja is celebrated
on Mahastami when a total of 108 lamps are lit and arranged in the
form of a necklace. To signify the beginning and the end of the
Sandhi Puja gun shots are fired keeping alive a tradition of
bursting canons that used to be practiced in yesteryears. On
Mahanabami, a goat, gourd and sugarcane are put on the sacrificial
altar to appease the goddess. Tarpan is performed at dawn on Dasami,
the last day of the pujas and the idol is taken for immersion to the
Ganges on shoulders thereafter the goddess is floated on twin
country boat and the rituals of immersion is completed accordingly.
Thereafter two birds are set free which according to Vedic texts are
messengers for Lord Shiva to inform him about the return of his
wife.
and brought up at the house of his maternal uncle at Chandanagar.
Ram Chand was a cashier in Gladstone Willey & Co, Calcutta.
His devotion to duty and the ability made him a banian of
Gladstone Willey & Co, Calcutta around 1846. He thereafter
shifted to Calcutta in the year 1849 and acquired properties in
Chorbagan. The main business of Ram Chand was of importing
cloths from Manchester . He was also exporting rice, mercury,
vermilion etc. to various countries at South-East Asia. 
celebrated
Doorga Puja at the residence of his Gurudev at Goswami Lane,
Bagbazar, Calcutta for five years. In the year 1856 Ram Chand
started Doorga Puja at his residence at Chorbagan. Such puja is
being continuously performed till today by his descendants. This
year (2000) Seal family would celebrate its 145th Doorga Puja in
which the 7th generation of Ram Chand Seal would also take part.
At present the total number of members in Seal family are in
around 250 out of which 70 % are staying in or around the temple
of family deity Sree Sree Iswar Radha Damodar situated at 42 ,Muktaram
Babu Street, Calcutta -7.
August/September each year. On that day a very small market is
held at the premises itself wherein some vendors of vermilion,
conch-shell bangle, Lac bangle and other traditional cosmatics
attend and sale such items. Bodhon starts on day after Mahalaya
and continues up to Sasthi. Five priests perform the puja. In
addition to traditional puja on Saptami , Astami , Navami and
Vijaya Dasami Kumari and Sadhoba puja are performed on the
Navami day. On the Astami day cow is worshipped in addition to
special puja at Ganges. In each day of puja while offering
flowers one of the members also offer flowers made of gold. In
old days all each evening of puja days some entertainment
programs used to be performed such as Jatra ,dances etc. Of late
the family members of the Seal family perform some entertainment
program in one of the evening of the puja. All the offerings of
Sandhi puja are still send to the family of Gurudev of Ram Chand
at Bagbazar. From the day of Mahalaya all the members of the
family becomes strictly vegetarian till Vijaya Dasami day. Poors
are fed on Navami afternoon.
