Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 16 - Sipra Pati

Durga Puja in my childhood was synonymous with the week-long visit to my Jeje Bapa and JejeMaa’s house in Cuttack. Only we called it Dussehra. There are so many memories... that it is quite the task to lean in and pick out one to share because that one memory is like a loose piece of wool from a sweater. Tug on it and it just unravels... memory upon memory. There were the games my cousins and I played, improvising the rules, the games we invented, reading those old Penguin publications and sepia-toned Reader’s Digests collections of my Dad and kakei, sitting on the verandah and watching the crowd as they headed towards the Kathajodi to the Naee Jatra, the food, the moms cooking, the sneaking onto the terrace in the middle of the night, walking in my JejeMaa’s baadi with her exotic plant collection, going to watch a movie with the whole clan. One Dussehra, when I was in Class VII, I remember 22 of the Patis walking to Durga Talkies to see Sree Jaganath! We did go visit the pandals, but they were almost an afterthought, and my memories regarding the ‘medhas’ and bhasani are vague at best.

One of my more vivid memories relate to the Naee Jatra. I don’t know if this still takes place now. But back in the 80s the banks of the Kathajodi would be home to a jatra where farmers and tradespersons from the small villages around Cuttack and from the islands in the Mahanadi would come to sell their ware. Baskets (kula), jhaadu, and other household products not typically found in the stand-alone grocery stores of those days. While I do not like being in a crowd, I enjoy watching a crowd. Our house in Cuttack offered the best gallery to watch throngs of people heading to the Naee Jatra, their numbers increasing as the afternoon progressed into early evening. People carrying their ware, the rickshaw wala yelling for people to move because no one was heeding his cycle bell, women and children dressed in resplendence (literally - my cousins and I had a running count of women wearing ‘shocking pink’ sarees; we used to also have a running count of the number of times cyclists had to dismount because pedestrians would not move), the stray bull plopping down in the middle of the road, the dahi bara-aloo dum vendors ‘walking’ their bicycles, the gupchup walas pushing their thelas, vendors balancing aluminum containers with singhadha and rasagolla on either side of flimsy bamboo pole, men carrying baskets covered with khalipatra on their heads… it was a human mosaic of color, sound, and sight! And, deft navigation!

I visited Cuttack every single year during Durga Puja till I moved out of Bhubaneswar in the early 90s. My last Puja was in 1990. And it was my last time at my grandparents’ home. To me this festive season has always been about family. I feel blessed to have a large family with scores of cousins on both sides. And a Puja does not feel like a Puja if I am alone.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 15 - Subhashis Panda

This was a little before I would be completing eight months into marriage. It was decided (no marks for guessing, who decided) that our first Bijoya Dashami would be a visit to all my in-laws followed by pandal hopping, finally ending with watching the Rabana Podi at Saheed Nagar. Much that I hate driving in heavy traffic; I went about the whole routine without a single retort. Paan in the mouth really helps sometimes.

When we reached Saheed Nagar, I parked the car in a bylane, and we walked hand in hand up to the pandal. I packed a couple of paans in my mouth as we weaved our way through the jam-packed crowd. After the customary darshan, as we were wading out to a distant location for a clear view of the Rabana Podi, I felt the urge to spit out the paan juice, which was overwhelming me. As we were bustling out, I suddenly saw an empty space and I spat. A hand came out from nowhere and my spit landed on the back of his hand. I whisked out my handkerchief and placed it on the back of his hand.

The next moment we had melted in the crowd.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 14 - Sid Padhi

The closest I came to an exciting memory in the context of Durga Puja was one, I think, from Std VIII days, when along with my cousin, I had a free run of the Grand Carnival of Cuttack – Bhasani. I say free run because my childhood had been a sheltered one, to say the least. I had to abide by timings and going out without informing and a definite objective was not the accepted norm. Hence, exposure to Puja fanfare was strictly from the confines of direct observable range of chaperones (generic for any accompanying elder). And, therefore, no adventures.  So, my cousins and I saw what our elders showed us.

Bhasani was all about whose Medha was the best and who put on the best show. There were friction points, of course. Rival pandals vying for popularity, which meant a mention in the papers the next day. Those were the days when people had integrity.

The second there was the route issue - which Medha would precede whom - for everyone who knows Cuttack know that there are no further 'avenues to explore'.

Thirdly, there was a communal angle. As the Medhas passed through certain Muslim zones, there would be a few miscreants (from either side) who would try to instigate a fight. When I look back on those times, I see how much society and societal thought has changed. Those miscreants would be caught and banged up by both sides and the show would literally go on. No huge flare-up like today. Reporters didn't care squat about those goons.

So, coming to me and my experience. Despite the free run, nothing happened. I mean, nothing of substance. The Grand Carnival appeared at its best yet. They had some new kind of lights that blinked better than the previous year. The dance steps were definitely the latest. I had a generous supply of roasted peanuts and was strategically located on a tall, broad wall overlooking the whole shebang - a ringside view.

But nothing happened. That year probably was the only year when all friction points were lubricated and the was also the only year I had the freedom to watch it from so close.

I went to bed very happy that night. I'd had my lifetime's fill from the buffet that evening had offered and it was all because ‘nothing happened' that evening.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 13 - Siddhartha Sahu

Durga Puja was always a Cuttack thing and I was, and still am, not a big fan of crowds. I have a vague recollection of pandal hopping once, ages back, in Cuttack with unidentified relatives in rickshaws. Neither the glitzy decorations nor the never changing features and pose of the Goddess from pandal to pandal interested me then. I have given pandals a miss ever since. I think the themes became more creative later with showcasing of current topics (like one shared recently with Xi as the demon!). But usually I find the execution amateurish and too much in the face. Personally, I prefer the permanence of a temple than an ephemeral pandal for my obeisance. I know I will get quite a few kicks in the butt from many of my friends but that's my honest take on this.

Welcome any damning comments you may have…

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 12 - Neeta Mohanty Nayak

Growing up around Durga Mandira in Bapuji Nagar

Durga Puja or Dussehra or just “Puja” as it’s known in Odisha. I grew up calling this festival Puja as this was the most popular festival of the year.  Being right next to a popular Durga mandira, I recall being part of the festivities from a very young age. 

As far as my memory goes back, the pre-puja preparation would start a month or two in advance.  The temple will get a fresh coat of paint.  A massive cleanup event will be planned.  Baikhunta Bhaina (head pujari at the temple) complaining to my parents because we kids would have ran across the clean floors and left our foot prints!!  There will be the much-awaited saree auction from the temple that my elder sisters looked forward.  The sarees from prior year used to be auctioned off to make room for new donations of sarees.  I so vividly remember, the saree donated from Banaras Beauty was the most sought after.

The temple had a tradition of sponsorship program.  20 families were allocated lunch/dinner for the 10 days.  My family had the honor of Asthami lunch.  The preparation would start a week in advance with Baikhunta Bhaina and his head cooks fixing menus and making the list.  I accompanied my Bapa to Hata a lot.  We would buy large quantities of supplies and directly deliver to mandira.  The day of Asthami, hustle bustle would start at 5 am and continue till 3 pm or so.  Hauling the groceries from home through the secret side door to the mandira was the fun part.   Being the right age for chores, my brother and I would run between our house and mandira for anything and everything.  Puja was accompanied with special musical instruments (shehnai and dholak) along with the ghanta and sankha.  New outfits, fragrance of flowers, smell of prasad in the air just brings the nostalgia in me. 

Not every year, but occasionally there would be a movie screening on the open field at night.  We would be on the first row and stay till the end and run home because my brother will scare me by saying there is a “Bhuta” sitting by the roadside.  Often there will be Ravan Dahan and I would bring potato and other vegetables to roast, God knows how much vegetables I have sacrificed in the fire!!  This was so repetitive every year that there was never a need to go around other places in Bhubaneswar.  A trip to Cuttack to see the pandals would be a dream come true.  Only if there was a time machine to take me back… but I do relive those moments in memory.

Bhubaneswar – best place on earth and childhood memories – takes you through life.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 11 - Sushant Paikray

A walk to the Unit 4 puja pandal on a cold October morning with my younger brother is possibly the best memory I have of Dussehra. This everyday walk would start almost two weeks before Sashti puja, from the time when the artisan would be gathering his random thoughts to give shape to his imagination. We would hold the artisan in high esteem and sit in front of him with great appreciation of his skill, though deep inside it used to be our urge to see the idol taking its final shape. Coming back home every day with a sense of satisfaction and narrating the progress to my sisters would become a norm for the next couple of weeks.

The euphoria and excitement building upto the puja followed by sadness and gloom on the day of immersion will always remain engraved in memory...

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 10 - Tamsa Mahapatra

Every year I eagerly wait for the arrival of Maa. The atmosphere becomes so blissful with sweet scent, sound of mantras and Dhol. For me, the first and foremost is to have a gorgeous new dress.

 My fondest memories are those of the Puja celebrations at our ashram in Puri. My parents and guruji, Sri Sri Satyananda Brahmachari used to do the Kumari maa sewa. Many Kumari Kanyas throng the ashram every morning. Then guruji washed their feet. My mother would apply alta, kumkum and chandan to the Kumari Maas. Then they would be seated in a line and offered prashad. The smell of bhoger khichudi was just irresistible. There would be a number of items to be served along with the khichdi. In the evening there would be the 'Dhunuchi dance' accompanied by dhaak. That was sheer magic! I felt like being transferred into another world. Simply mesmerizing!

 After Bijaya Dashami, a sense of emptiness would engulf my soul. My father would lift up my spirit by saying, "Maa has to go back to her abode as she has to take care of the world. Cheer up Dhania, she will come back next year."

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 9 - Rajesh Srivastava

My fondest memories of Navratri or Durga Puja are those of the Garba Dance festival when I was in Baroda, my first posting back in 1994.

Those 9-days or rather nights I experienced the highest level of aesthetics ever. Every evening, the entire city, as One, would earnestly wait around 8pm for the air to be soon filled with soul enchanting devotional songs of Maa Durga, sung typically in Gujarati Garbo style. People, absolutely loving people, boys, girls, uncles, aunties, grandpas and grandmas (with the highest standards of civic sense I have found anywhere across the Indian subcontinent) in thousands, all dressed up in traditional Garbo attire would slowly join in, barefoot, with or without Garba dancing sticks, swaying together in concentric circles on the open, cleaned mud-prepared ground like under a common hypnotic spell in complete Unison to Spiritual Harmony. We, bunch of young officers, would at times hop from one Mela 'ground' to another spread across the city on our bikes until morning. As each night transcended into wee hours, there was no sign of tiredness but only the longing for one more song. On the last three nights, as the feeling sunk in that Garba festival will soon end, you could see people having wet eyes as the last mornings dawned, until next year!

Not one untoward incident took place those days, as young girls and boys roamed freely throughout the city, clad in jewelry, all night. I often murmured to myself, this is Heavenly India!

We, IAF spoilt brats, would quite often leave behind our bikes somewhere in the city, only for the police to decently return them back to us next morning in the Officers Mess, Makarpura Palace. We took that as our right, like we trust our parents.

I also see Durga Puja as a precursor to Deepawali and my annual bonafide licence to splurge and indulge in all sorts of enviable but harmless sins. 😉

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 8 - Debjeet Kar

Every Puja, the child in us would wait with a pair of new dress for each of the 4 days of Durga Puja Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami. The day would start on an empty stomach till the pushpanjali time and then we would run for a Puri Sabji and a golab jamun prasad to fill ourselves first and fast! Lunch menu comprised of khicchddi or pulao with a variety of vegetables, khiri and rosogollas at the end. The evening time was filled with a fun walk along the nearby pandals and then meeting friends and relatives - each one wearing a gorgeous and new attire, with broad smiles, and endless stories taking us down memory lane. Each day and every night till Dashami were memorable! Till the day of Dashami where we expected a bhasani of Goddess Durga accompanied with a new hope of seeing her again in a similar form next year...again...

Tradition kept alive as years go by...🙏 A week of fun and a beautiful way to energise ourselves.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 7 - Som Patnaik

My most fond memories from childhood are the days of Durga Puja – days of joy, happiness, fun and gaiety. Nine days of good food, the most wonderful sweets, and being surrounded by festivities is what transpired as Goddess Durga resided with us. One of the things I cherish the most is how my brothers and I stayed away in the evenings to go around the different medhas in town and specially stop to listen to the melodies at the Cuttack pandals.

One distinct, favourite and humorous memory of almost every Puja season was sneaking into our home late at night after pandal-hopping and getting caught in the act by our father. His one-line remarks on our late returns still brings a broad smile to my face.

This was also that time of the year when we were indulged.... good food and new clothes. Durga Puja was a time of change, change of season, feelings, and everything seemed new. I miss those festivities that were full of simplicity.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 6 - Tariq Wakil

When I was in Standard 9...

I had been invited to a new friend's house who had just shifted from Cuttack. I took him to meet my Saheed Club (junior) friends. When we reached the club field, the gang was discussing about visiting the puja pandals in Bhubaneswar on Vijay Dashami. Everyone greeted my new friend, Bulu Parida. Bulu was a real daredevil and he suggested we all go on a cycle expedition to Cuttack and see the pandals there, which were better and more beautiful than that of Bhubaneswar. Though this remark was not taken well, it arose our curiosity. None of us had seen the Cuttack Dussehra celebration. Eventually it was decided that we all - 14-15 guys would go double-riding process - two on one cycle.

But I had doubts... if my parents would allow me to go on this expedition. So, I kept mum not knowing how to convince my friends or my parents. To my surprise, that evening my friends came to my house. They pleaded with my father, ultimately convincing him to allow me to go on the trip – on the guarantee that we all return before sunset. They didn't tell him that it was a cycling trip. And, neither did I.

The next day we met at the club field and by 7am we were on the go via Rasulgarh. The highway was narrower those days. And I was literally scared of the traffic - inter-state trucks and Ambassadors and Rajdoot and Bajaj scooters. I had a dreadful belief that truck drivers were drunkards and always caused accidents. So, I insisted on pedaling instead of sitting on the rod of the bicycle. I was convinced I was a better cyclist than the rest of my friends. And I could easily dodge the drunk truckers or in an emergency... just jump away to save my life. I still remember the fright and courage mixture in my stomach.

It was a two hour ride. We stopped enroute at Pahala to have fresh hot, smouldering, rassagollas - I gobbled twenty of them for just five rupees!

The moment we entered Cuttack town, I was baffled by the narrow, crowded roads. Every two meters we had to literally dismount our cycles. There were rows and rows of shops and innumerable cows and dogs in the streets. Street vendors captured more than 50% of the streets. It appeared as if everyone knew everyone in the crowd. There was total chaos all around. 

Our first Pandal was the one at Madhupatna chowk.. and then... it was as if every lane and bylane had a pandal. We were forced to get down from the cycle and simply walk.

Bulu took us to his Mamu's place in Chowdhury Bazar and we all had some good naashta of Aloodum Dahibara, which I tasted for the first time. It was really good, and we had our fill. His Mamu directed a route plan for us and we set forth visiting pandals until 3pm. We got to know that the evenings would be entertaining and cold. We also had to return the same evening before dark. We were all frightened. Mamu instructed us to stay back overnight...

More to come!

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 5 - Mrigank Das

I have one little vignette about Dussehra Puja that comes from the small town of Burla in Western Orissa where we lived for about 5 years when I was a young lad. It is a smaller city compared to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack or even its bigger twin city Sambalpur but by no means insignificant as it houses two very premier institutions of learning, the Medical College and an Engineering College both ranked among the top two or three in Orissa. As a result of its proximity to the Madhya Pradesh border, Dussehra in Burla was a fusion of the traditional Durga Devi pandals and also the more North Indian custom of burning an effigy of the ten-headed demon king Ravana in a fairground on the south side of the town. As a young lad after doing the rounds of the usual Durga Devi pandals in the various Medical and Engineering college hostels which were always done with their usual splendor and variety and where my dad always got a few extra goodies owing to his status as a Medical college professor,  our tradition was to go out to the nocturnal Vijaydashami effigy burning which was in a fairground on the other side of the huge canal that flowed down from the majestic Hirakud dam that separated the quaint, compact, and yet charming market areas of Burla from the Medical campus where we resided. The sights and sounds and smells of the pyrotechnics and the bonhomie of the large crowd of onlookers that would cheer and clap as the various parts of the Demon king's grotesque effigy came careening down with crackles and spits of fire was a childhood thrill that was distinct and unique from the celebrations in the cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on the eastern part of the state.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 4 - Rita Sinha

My childhood memories of Durga Puja starts and ends in the small Durga Puja pandal of Unit 4 AG Colony.

My unforgettable memories of Durga Puja start with Baba taking us to a gents’ tailor in Unit 4 market for tailoring our dresses. I liked the bell bottom pants and (Neetu Singh's) elephant-ear sleeves. The number of inches of bell bottom flares obviously reduced after delivery due to my mother’s conspiracy.

Now, comes the most awaited days of Durga Puja. My nostalgic memories of Durga Puja are Durga Ma, partially hidden in the aroma-mixed jhuna smoke during aartis, the  huge lotus garland around her neck, her long black hair, the sound of Dhak, the khichidi bhog blended with a unique puja mixed flavour, the Dhunuchi dance after sandhya aarti, the sindoor khela..... etc.  (I can add the numbers non-stop).

Other amusements included the small mela where I think world's best lemonade, lembu khatta ice cream, sonpapri, chat and dahibara used to wait for me.  The world's best cinema theatre used to come to is in an open space under the sky with a biiiig white screen tied to two long bamboo pillars with a projector.  I once got a chance to watch 'Awara' for one hour. (The screen name of the heroine, Rita, attracted me more!)

On the day of Ashtami, tasty, tasty curries and non-veg items were cooked by Ma at home. But my mind was always in the khichdi bhog of the pandal.

Gradually comes the day of Dussehra. Ma used to spend the day preparing coconut laddu, sondesh, nimki, khaja, and ghugni. Didi and I were appointed as assistants in nimki cutting.

Finally, comes the pathetic day of Bisarjan when I used to literally cry .

Last but not the least, came the time to rest. This particular time my sisters and I used to get fever all at the same time. Ma and Baba's scolding used to work more than medicines here.

After all this fun, was the most disliked memory: the school opening.

Friends, we all are witnesses of all the changes in the world from the past decades to till today. So enjoy every moment of your day. You will never get back the day you have already spent. We can again write a story after decades about this day.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 3 - Sid Padhi

When I think Puja during my schooldays, I think of sardines in an ambassador car. The sardines being my nine cousins and me packed into an Ambassador that took us on a tour of the pandals of Cuttack. No getting down. No parking space, anyway. But, those days cars were allowed. We took turns sitting on each other and coming up for air. It was a lot of fun. The puja pandals itself weren't as fun - going to Cuttack to see what I'd seen the previous year didn't excite me.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

 Take 2 - Sankalpa Basu

Durgapuja was the most special time of the year for me. Maa used to cook many delicacies, there were new clothes, no school and no homework, it was the simply the best time of the year. Amongst all these memories one stands out. Durgapuja was the only time I was allowed to stay out past midnight. It made me feel free. My best friend Munna and me made sure that our bicycles were in good repair and wait until dinner was over.

It was quite a ritual, we used to go out every night but one when we went to see a movie with the family. The rest were devoted towards exploring the various pujas of Bhubaneswar and outskirts. Our forays didn't have a pattern, we stayed in one pandal if we wanted to or ride between many if that's what we felt like on that night.

Our favourites were the pujas at Railway Station, AG colony, Airport and Banadurga. There was also the pleasure of going the various sahi pujas of Old-town. In those days, hopefully it hasn't changed much, the old town idols were mostly of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. These pujas became less busy after midnight, it was the best time to be see those pujas. Maa used to look the same every year. It was divine, literally to commune with her in the quiet hours of the night.

Watching a open air movie was one of the many perks of the pujas. We liked to watch the shows in the Aerodrome puja. It was late and cold by the time the movie ended. And the aerodrome road became rather deserted. My most favourite moments were of riding fast in the same route as our school bus went. We used to race against each other, laughing and without a care in the World. Our bikes made a satisfying whirr when we freewheeled, and the cool air hit my warm face and coursed through my hair. I felt more alive than I ever have. Then we went to see the old town pujas before returning home. We often stayed a bit, Maa in her resplendence watched the two lads as they looked at their protectress. And I used to think she was smiling at us.

Durga Puja and Dussehra Memoirs

Take 1 - Biswajita Ray Samal

My childhood memories of Durga Puja go back to the time when we lived in our house near Bhubaneswar's airport. Durga Puja in that area was predominantly organized and celebrated by the Bengali staff who lived in the airport campus. After completing puja at home, we would all dress up and go visit the Puja Mandap. It was so nice to see all the women, men and children dressed up! I loved seeing the Dhup dance. And those drum sounds! They gave me the goose bumps then, and even now, when I think about it, I get goosebumps – Bhakti goosebumps! I learnt about sindoor khel – this is something that was not common among Odia people. I learned at these celebrations the reason behind sindoor khel. Earth is Goddess Durga’s maternal home, her maika. As she gets ready to head back to the heavens, she is bid farewell with the auspicious colors of vermilion, sindoor.

I also remember going to Cuttack a few times to watch the different medhas. It was always interesting to watch the Bhasani from the balcony of our family friend’s home. Bhasani always made me sad – I knew it was temporary, but it felt like Goddess Durga was leaving us. I felt more sad for the artists who had put so much effort in creating the idols.