There are a few households in Begampur in Hooghly district where Durga Puja is celebrated. This year on the morning of Nabami I visited two such houses – Ghosh Bari and Gupta Bari. At that time in both the houses puja was going on.
Ghosh Bari : The Durga Puja of Ghosh Bari in Begampur was started by Gayaram Ghosh quite a few centuries back. The five-arched grand thakurdalan will definitely draw one’s attention as the same is situated in an open space.
The puja is held according to Baisnab rituals and, as a result of which no sacrifice is performed here. The presiding deity of the Ghosh family is Gopinath Jiu. The Durga puja here starts much earlier as it begins in the Nabami titihi of Krishna paksha. Chandipath starts from then onwards and continues till Nabami. I was told that during the days of the puja the family members do not consume onion, garlic, red lentils and pui sak (one type of spinach).
Like other household the idol of Devi Durga is prepared in the thakurdalan with the commencement of kathamo puja on Janmastami. There is no annabhog instead luchi is offered to the goddess in the evening. Both Kumari Puja and the ritual of dhuno porano by the female family members takes place on Nabami. Previously the idol is carried on shoulders for immersion but now this practice has been stopped. Instead, it is taken by a trolley and immersed in Saraswati river.
Special thanks to Shri Sudipto Ghosh
Gupta Bari: Another household puja of Begampur is of Gupta Bari but it is comparatively younger than the previous one. The goddess resides in a triple-arched dalan during the days of the puja.
The idol of Durga is prepared by the artisans in this dalan following the tradition of kathamo puja on the auspicious day of Janmastami. Goat sacrifice is done here. The rituals of Kumari puja and dhuno porano are followed here. The presiding deity of the family is Baba Bansewar Shiv. I was told by a family member that Kali Puja is much older than Durga Puja and the same is held in this thakurdalan.
Going there: The best way to reach Begampur is by train. Board any train of chord line from Howrah and get down at Begampur station. One can either board a toto or can simply walk and reach the pujas in less than ten minutes time.
Special thanks to Shri Tarasankar Gupta.
My sincere thanks to Shri Kushal Mukherjee for helping me to locate the household pujas in Begampur.
Date of posting: 21st October, 2026.
