Durga Puja of Chaudhuri Bari, Amadpur

Durga Puja is celebrated both in barowari puja pandals and in bonedi households of West Bengal. There are many pujas which are pretty old and are being celebrated till now with pomp and splendour following the rituals. One such household is Chaudhuri Bari of Amadpur in Memari in Purba Barddhaman district.

The Durga Puja of Chaudhuri Bari at Amadpur started way back in 1659 by Krishna Ram Sen Sharma. He was a “courtier of the Nawab of Murshidabad” and was “highly respected”. This year the puja will touch 365 years.

I have visited Amadpur in 2018 during Rathayatra and I stayed at Baithakkhana Amadpur. During my stay I found the structure (kathamo) of the Durga idol being worshipped on the auspicious day. A small puja was held at Durga Bari for that occasion. There was a ritual of collecting mud which clings to the wheels of the chariot. This mud is used to begin making the frame for the Durga idol. The Durga Puja is a grand affair at the Chaudhuri Bari. It is nineteen day festival divided into fourteen days for bodhan and five days for the puja. The bodhan starts here on Krishna Nabami tithi following “Krishnabamadi kalparamva“.

Devi Durga is of traditional ekchala type at Chaudhuri Bari. The puja is performed following Kalika puran. There are quite a few unique things connected with this puja. Firstly there are no bahans for Lakshmi and Saraswati. It was said that as because the goddesses will stay here at Chaudhuri Bari. Secondly, there is no chandmala in the hands of the goddess. One will notice these things if one looks at the idol minutely. Thirdly, fruits which are offered to the goddess are intact. On Mahastami, the goddess is offered maha naibidya weighing one maund of rice along with whole fruits and vegetables. That apart different types of sweets are also offered to Maa Durga and all are prepared by vien at the Chaudhuri household.

Like other bonedi families, Kumari puja is held on the morning of Astami. Though the ritual of dhuno porano was practiced previously but now it has stopped. Bali or sacrifice takes place at this puja but it is not animal sacrifice. Instead chalkumro and sugarcane are sacrificed. The thakurdalan bore a festive look during the days of the puja. Many guests come and stay at the heritage homestay of the Chaudhuris and witness this grand puja. Last year I was pretty lucky to witness this puja on my way from Dasghara and Chakdighi and back to Kolkata by car. The Durga Bari is quadrangular in shape. Here apart from Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Kartick Puja, Rashyatra and Saraswati Puja are held. That apart Dolyatra Phul Dol, Snanyatra and Rathayatra are also held every year. One will also find a cluster of four Shiva temples with a dolmancha just outside the heritage homestay. Less than five minutes walk from there one will come across the temple of Radha-Madhav, who happens to be the presiding deity of the Chaudhuris. There is also Anandomoyee Kali Temple which is approximately one hundred fifty years old just adjacent to Chaudhuri Mansion.

Going there:

Amadpur can be reached both by road and rail. The nearest railway station is Memari in Howrah-Barddhaman main line. From there one has to take a toto to reach the village and it roughly takes about fifteen minutes to cover the distance from the station. I have visited Amadpur twice. On my first visit I went by train and last year during the puja I went by car.

Date of posting: 20th September, 2024.