There are plenty of houses in West Bengal where Durga Puja is held maintaining all the rituals and customs in a grand way. There are quite a number of such houses close to Kolkata where the puja is being held for more than a century. One such house is Chakrabarti Bari at Langalberia near Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district.
The Durga Puja was started by Sambhu Chandra Chakrabarti more than two centuries back. The puja is currently being done by the sixth generation. Kali Puja is also held here and I was told by a family member that it was older than Durga Puja. As one enters the house, the massive five khilan thakurdalan is on the right. It has received a fresh coat of paint. Once you climb up the stairs you will notice some stucco works and false windows. The floor has been renovated with marble.
The protima is of traditional ekchala like other bonedi households and the same is built in the thakurdalan by the same family for generations who has built the first idol. The kathamo puja is held on the auspicious day of Janmastami. All the weapons of the gods and goddesses are made of brass. One type of sweet (naru) is prepared in the household from Panchami onwards and is offered to the goddess.
The Durga Puja is held according to Shakta rituals and only fish is allowed during the days of the puja. The blog is prepared by the relatives of the family and it feeds almost one hundred daily. Previously there was a custom of animal sacrifice but now it was stopped a long time ago. Instead a symbolic goat is made out of kheer (rice pudding) together with powdered rice and is sacrificed on the days of Saptami, Astami and Nabami.
Kumari Puja is not held but the ritual of dhuno porano on the afternoon of Nabami is a thing to watch here. I was told by a family member that once a female member of the family performs the ritual, then a child is made to sit on her lap which is really an amazing thing. All the family members take their meal together.
On the morning of Bijoya Dasami, after baran and sindur khela is over, the idol is taken on the shoulders by the male members of the family and they used to travel a distance of about two kilometres on foot and immersed the protima on the water. The young generation of the family is so vibrant that they part in the rituals.
Going there: The nearest railway station is Baruipur. From there one has to hire an auto or a toto and reach Langanberia. The distance is roughly three miles from the railway station.
Special thanks to Shri Tuhin Chakrabarti.
Date of posting: 29th September, 2025.
Blog of Kinjal Bose 