Durga Puja in famous wealthy families of Kolkata

In every year West Bengal Tourism arrange different tour programmes  during Durja Puja . In the year 2011. I  participated in a  puja package on the outskirts of Kolkata. I shared my experience in my Blog ‘Durga Puja in Hooghly District’.
In the last year I took part along with my sister-in-law in Sanatani-II, afternoon package. Our journey started from Netaji Indoor stadium at 1 P.M. At  the beginning of journey organizers gave every tourist a bag  full of different items like brochure on Durga puja and Rabindranath Tagore, one DVD on ‘Sharodotsav’, and six coasters  in a packet decorated with beautiful pictures on tourists places in West Bengal.   
Durga Puja at Khelat-House . 

The Khelat bari is situated at 47, Pathuriaghata street in north Kolkata. It is a well-maintained and well preserved properly. Today the conditions of most of the old aristocratic houses are very poor. But  condition of Khelatbari is exceptionally  good . This house was built by Khelat Ghosh. He was a clerk of Lord Waren Hestings. Lord Waren Hestings came to this house. Many other personalities of Bengal visited this house. Famous novelist Sri Bhibhutibhushan Bandhopaddaye was a private teacher in this house. Many famous singers and Dancers performed in this house. One can find various photographs of those famous  personalities. Today the members of the family are living in the first floor. In the ground floor office of the Bengal music college is situated. on every year different music conferences are held here.
Traditionally for  last 166 year this family has been celebrating  Durga Puja. Devi Durga is welcomed on the Maha Sasti at Beltala (Bel tree).  Asura is of  greenish colour signifying the colour of flame. On the saptami morning the idol is bathed with juice of twelve fruits and  water of the Ganges. According to custom, Devi Durga is dressed with a Dhakaijamdani sari. In Austhami, symbolic sacrifice is done upon a sugar-cane with sindoor marks. According to custom at the time of Sandhi Puja, cannon is fired. Clay made Nilkanta bird is used at the time of immersion. Customary Bhog, home made sweets are offered to Devi Durga. 

Khelat House

Khelat House

Khelat House

Shovabazar Rajbari :
Shovabazar Rajbari is situated on 33 and 36 Raja Nabakrishna Dev street. This Puja is 257 years old. Raja Navakrishna Dev  introduced this Puja. He was a famous babu at that time. He took Jamindari of Sutanuti from Nabab Sirajoddula and he used to give Rs. 11 lakh tax to Sirajodulla every year. It is believed  that Nabakrishna Dev taught parshi to Navab Shirajodoulla. Raja Nabokrishna Dev introduced this Durga Puja to celebrate the victory of Robert Clive for  winning  battle of Palashi in 1757. Robert Clive arrived at the Puja celebration with buckets of fruits and he donated  Rs/ 101.  Raja Navakrishna Dev was a rich man at that time. He spent Rs/ 10 lakh on the funeral ceremony of his mother.
After return from Chikago, Swami Vivekananda was felicitated by the members of this family in this thakurdalan. One can find that picture at  the entrance of this house. This house has been declared as a Heritage house.
Raja Navakrishna Dev married six time, but he did not get any child. He adopted Gopimohan Dev who was his brother’s son. After seventh marriage Raja Navakrishna Dev got a son. The name of his son was Rajkrishna Dev. The Shovabazar Rajbari organises the puja at two different address on the same street. One puja is  organised  at the house of Gopimohan Dev and another puja at the ancestral house of Rajkrishna Dev. Devi Durga is ornamented with Dakersaj in both houses. In the house of Gopimohan Dev,  Devi’s bahana,  the lion looks more like a horse than a lion.  

Shovabazar Rajbari

Shovabazar Rajbari

Shovabazar Rajbari

Shovabazar Rajbari

Durga Puja at the house of Chatubabu & Latubabu :

‘Ramdulal Nibus’ is situated on 67E, Beadon street, Kolkata. Ashutosh Dev & Promothonath Dev were known as Chatubabu and Latubabu. They were famous among the 19th century aristocratic  families. The reference of Chatubabu and Latubabu found in ‘Jibansmriti’ written by Rabindranath Tagore.  Ramdulal Dev, father of Ashutosh Dev & Promothonath Dev was a merchant. He introduced Durga puja in the year 1770. But this puja was popularized  by his sons in the year 1780. This 243 year old puja is known as Chatubabu-Latubabu’s puja. According to tradition, the Devi’s idol is covered with thin veil and two other idols ‘Jaya’ and ‘Bijoya’ accompany her. ‘Bodhon’ here commences on ‘Pratipad’- the day after Mahalaya. The idol is established at the ‘Mandap’ on saptami (Seventh Day after new moon); On the day of immersion, a nilkantha bird was freed, through this tradition is no longer today. 

Durga Puja at the house of Chatubabu & Latubabu

Durga Puja at the house of Chatubabu & Latubabu

 Duttabari of Thanthania :  
156 year old Thanthania Duttabari is one of the aristocratic houses in Kolkata. Originally they were goldsmith, but today there descendents are involved in different business. It is one of the solvent houses among the present houses of the babus. In the occasion of Durgapuja women of this house wear different types of ornaments. Every married women of this family wear large nose-ring like a bangle. According to tradition newly married bride is worshipped as ‘kumari’. The descendents of this family are  Baishnavs. Here Devi is not in a fighting mood. She sits on the lap of lord Shiva. The corridor of this house is decorated with 108 Bel-leaf. This building is well-maintained. On the occasion of ‘Sandhi puja’ the symbolic sacrifice offered  to Devi Durga with sunned rice, pulses, sugar-cane and coconut. Rituals with Nilkanta bird exist no longer.

Thanthania Duttabari

Thanthania Duttabari

Chandrabari :  
Bharat Chandra of Nadia district settled in Kokkata in 1781. He introduced the puja after marriage of his only daughter . Famous personalities like Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Mahatma Gandhi came to this house. After independence Nirmal Chandra , descendent of this family was an active politician at that time. Once this house became an important political centre. Nirmal Chandra Street and Ganesh Chandra avenue are named after these famous personalities Nirmal Chandra and Ganesh Chandra of this house. Famous politician and ex-cabinet minister of Govt. of India  late Protap Chandra Chandra  belonged to this family. Devi Durga here ornamented with ‘Dakersajj’ and installed with backdrop of ‘Ekchala’. Famous architect Srish Chandra  designed this ‘thakurdalan’. Today renter are settled in different portion of this house. Now a days a descendent of Ganesh Chandra live in this house. This house has been declared as a  heritage house. 

Chandrabari

Chandrabari

Rani Rashmoni Bari :
Rani Rashmoni Bari is situated on 13, Rani Rashmoni Road at Janbazar area. Rani Rashmoni was married to Raja Ramchandra.  She was a very charitable woman. Famous babughat was built by Rani Rashmoni. At that time it was known as Rajchandra Ghat. The  famous puja of Rani Rashmoni Bari of central Kolkata  started around 1780 by Padmamoni Dasi , the elder daughter of Rani Rashmoni. The auspicious presence of Paramhansa Ramkrishna in 1864 added extra dignity to the Puja.. Eminent personalities of Bengal Raja Rammohan Ray, Swami Vivekananda, Nejati Subhash Chandra Bose, Iswarchandra Vidyasagar visited this house. Day after Mahalaya Devi Durga is installed on ‘Mandapa’. Kumari puja is performed on Saptami, Austami and Navami. Even today ‘Bhoj’ is cooked with the holy water of the Ganges. From ‘Protipad’ to ‘Dasami’ in every day one idol of Shiva is made and worshipped with Devi Durga and all those idols of Shiva are  immerse with Devi Durga on Dasami. This Durga Puja was included in the list of Sanatani Puja by WBTDC on the request of Satyajit Roy.

Rani Rashmonibari

Rani Rashmonibari