Triumph of tradition

This year marks a return to the roots and traditional practices, says Angela Paljor

Chittaranjan Park, the little Bengal of Delhi, is in its final stage of preparations for Durga Puja. While the theme pandals have been the talk of the town for quite some time, there are others who love to stick to the traditions. And return to the golden old is palpable.

Samrat Banerjee, who is busy getting the pandals ready at Uday Shankar Park under the Durgotsav Greater Kailash-II for their 27th Durga Puja feels that being true to the traditions is the most essential element. “We don’t have any theme as such — for us it’s all about being traditional. From the murti to thepandal everything is quintessentially Bengali,” shares Samrat who takes out time for us amid the Puja preparations.

The decorations are kept minimalistic, keeping the combination of red and white for the pandals. “My forefathers came to Delhi around 200-250 years back during the Mughals and the Britishers. They started celebrating Durga Puja around the walled city and we have kept the same traditional that were followed once. Being a part of diaspora, we were obliged to bring a part of our heritage — an age without social media. The only way left was through traditions,” shares the 37 year old who feels that amid the craziness for theme-based Pujas and pseudo-naturalists, the real essence of tradition is getting lost.

However, he is not alone in trying to keep the traditions intact. Even the artisans who come especially for Durga Puja have been a part of their extended family. “Shamol Kaur, the artist who is behind the entire idol making, is from Krishnanagar and his family comes to Delhi for the idol making since decades. I was probably three years when I was first introduced to him and he must have been around 10-11. Our parents used to work together and now we do. Making sure that all the materials are organic and there is no use of elements like thermocol or acrylic paints. Everything that can be recycled is kept separately once they are used and only the idol which is made from clay is immersed.” For Banerjee everyone involved in the Puja — from the priests to the pandal guys and the drummers — have become a big fat family.

While most of CR Park has theme based Pujas, Banerjee too found it hard to resist the idea at first. “Around six years ago, I was tempted to do something new and we even tried changing a few things. But the second we went a little out of the arc, we just couldn’t accept it—such was the nature of the tradition we imbibed. However, now we as a family do not find it difficult to maintain the traditional aspect, rather it’s hard to get over it because we understand the real deal,” shares, Banerjee who finds it really motivating when people from all over Delhi and abroad come just to be a part of the Puja, especially the Ashtami Puja and Sandhi Puja as they are able to relate to the tradition and the family as well. “This constantly rejuvenates our belief system. And the whole idea of bringing people together under the umbrella of tradition, so that they can enjoy the real essence of Puja is overwhelming.” Since they are Vaishnavas, they make sure that priests from the Ramakrishna Math perform the rituals. “The mandap is probably the largest in Delhi because puja is the most essential part. Everyone should have the space to worship in their own way.”

Another thing that is missing here is the pomp and show. There are no banners of the sponsors or anything that will make it look like an utsav, rather it has a lovely aura of a family gathering. “We do have sponsors but all have become the larger family. Also, we believe that we are like a batter. If someone gives us rice, somebody is giving us sugar – an interpersonal relationship. Along with spreading the family values.”

For Banerjee and his family, there is a clear divide between Durga Puja and Durga Utsav. Puja was a part of religious traditions but later the zamindars took it up as a celebration. “So the pomp and show that we see during the puja is a replication of the festivities that the zamindars enjoyed.” With the call for Independence, sarvajanik puja (community puja) started as a medium to bring the people under a single roof. “But it’s a personal choice. Durga Puja is equally important for the people across ages and mindsets – this is the whole aspect of utsav.”

While there are other samitis too that stick to their roots, they have absorbed changes to make things sustainable. 3, Chittaranjan Park, Durga Puja Samiti, the second largest samiti among the nine samitis in CR Park has made it a point to follow the traditions along with being eco-friendly. They have forbidden the use of synthetics and other materials that cannot be reused or dissolved easily. However, their main attraction still remains the immersion pond.

Along with having the largest puja ground, they have dug up a pond where throughout the year they make compost that is used in the gardening and for the Puja it is covered and supported by bamboo sticks and transformed into the play area for the children. “The idol takes only a day or two to completely dissolve. Next day we take out the bamboo pillars and fence the pond area. Since, the water will be absorbed by the soil, the area is again used for compost,” shares Amit Kumar Rao, who is the head of the committee. The MCD makes sure to spray mosquito repellent as it’s the monsoon season.

The five elements

Everyone has their own way of celebrating Durga Puja, while some play with colours, others find it a way of showcasing what defines Durga.