Blog of Kinjal Bose

Basanti Puja of Bally Harisabha

Durga Puja, is no doubt, the greatest festival of the Bengalees. It is held in autumn; whereas Basanti Puja is held six months later in spring. It is normally held in the Bengali month of Chaitra (April). Though not celebrated in such a grand way like the Durga Puja; but still it is worshipped in a number of places. One such place is Bally Harisabha of 207, Goswami Para Road in the district of Howrah for more than eighty years.

Continue reading Basanti Puja of Bally Harisabha

Household Jagaddhatri Pujas in Chandannagar

When we speak of Jagaddhatri Puja in Chandannagar, the first thing that reminds us is that the puja is celebrated here for four days just like Durga Puja. But there are a number of families who celebrate the puja in Nabami tithi where the pujas of Saptami, Astami and Nabami are held in a single day.

Durga Puja of Serampore Goswami Bari

This year on the day of Saptami I paid a visit to Serampore to witness the Durga Puja of bonedi families. My first destination was Serampore Rajbari. Although I paid a visit earlier but this time it was a completely new experience because of Durga Puja.

Durga Puja of Garalgacha Jamidar Bari

The Durga Puja of Garalgacha Jamidar Bari located in Chanditala II block of Serampore subdivision of Hooghly district dates back to 1767. This year I visited the Jamidar Bari popularly known as Babuder Bari twice – on Sasthi and Nabami.

Household Durga Pujas in Konnagar

Konnagar, a municipality of Hooghly district houses a number of families where Durga Puja is famous and some are celebrated for centuries. On the day of Mahastami, I visited six such families and covered them in this post.

Continue reading Household Durga Pujas in Konnagar

Durga Puja of Serampore Dey Bari

Durga Puja is held in many bonedi households in Serampore of which Dey Bari in Dey Street is one of the oldest. This year I paid a visit there in the afternoon and came to know that Durga Puja started way back in 1748 A.D by Ram Chandra Dey.

Continue reading Durga Puja of Serampore Dey Bari

Family Durga Pujas in Janai and Baksha

A number of families in Janai and adjoining Baksha in Chanditala II block of Hooghly district celebrate Durga Puja with great pomp and splendour even today. Some of the pujas are pretty old. This year I decided to cover four such pujas – two each in Janai and Baksha, though there are other pujas also.

Twin Shiva Temples, Baranagar

There are a number of temples in Baranagar – some of which are pretty old. One such temple situated near Kutighat is a twin Shiva temple more than 160 years old.