Durga Puja by Chorbagan Chatterjee Family

The house situated at Muktaram Babu Street Kolkata 7,the address is 120 & 122 Muktaram Babu Street.This traditional family belongs to Late Sri Ram Chandra Chottopadhaya , according to whose name, the name of the building is Ram Chandra Bhavan.This year is the 153rd year of puja being carried on by the descendants of Ram Chandra Babu.The speciality of the puja here is the goddess Durga is presented as Mahisasoor-o-Mardini,the deity is made by the traditional craftsmen of kumartuli for 6 generations with uniqueness in eyes(tana chokh),Clothes(benaroshi),ornaments made up of Gold and Shola (Shola-o-Sonar Mukut,Nake noth soho barir Gohona),Silver lotus and “astras” .Every “Janmashtomi” there is “Khathamo Puja”(It’s the main structure of the deity) is done . The Drummers (Dhaki) are also carrying on from generation to generation, having uniqueness in their beats and rhythm in them, speciality of which can be identified.

One of the most important aspect of this puja is the “Bhog” and its cooking process which is only known by the family members, who prepare each and every bit of it, all by themselves. There is a strict quantity of bhog which is prepared every year and in the same way, from a very old hand written instruction guide, from the ancestors of the family, so that they can carry on this utsav in the same manner. The cooking area is situated away from the prayer zone, the extreme south of the house which is called the “Jamtala”. “Kul-o-debota” “SridharJew” is being worshiped till date,whose kitchen lies in the same place where his regular “bhog” is prepared by the descendants.There are many other specialities regarding the number of preparations in the “Bhog” and its presentation to the Deity is spectacular.Previously there were sacrifices given to the deity which was later stopped by Saroj Sundari Devi , wife of Late Sri Sushil Krishno Chottopadhaya.

At the end of the utsav, seven wives from the family performs the last ritual and asks the mother to return again the following year.The four days of the festival passes by, leaving behind the happy memories of all the family members , who gather here from different places for this auspicious occasion.