Festivals are like ornaments of any country. We may like it
or not but we love to take a glance of it. India has a very rich culture of
celebrating the best festivals in the world. It could be religious festivals
around the world or music festivals around the world. We Indians are always up
for it and celebrate with all our heart and soul.
Among these, the most famous Indian festivals are Durga Puja
and Navaratri. Yes, you read it right. It is ‘or’. Though during this time
Indians worship Maa Durga there is a huge difference. Navaratri is being
celebrated for nine days throughout India but Durga Puja is celebrated on by
Bengalis in India.
Navarati: During Navaratri people worship goddess Durga for
nine days. Males do not shave their beards, does not touch Non-veg foods. They
also play ‘dandiya’ (a dance form plays with two sticks). In the northern part
of India, Navaratri means dandiya. That is how North Indians remembers and
celebrates Navaratri.
On the other part of India(Kolkata/West Bengal), Durga puja
starts from the 6th day(sasthi) of Navaratri. This is the main and biggest
festival of Bengalis. This is the time when all the Bengalis will buy new
clothes to wear on every day.
This time I wanted to explore Durga puja in Bangalore. I was
very curious to chalk down differences between Kolkata’s Durga puja and
Bangalore's. To be very honest I was underestimating Bangalore’s Durga puja.
Because I grew up in Kolkata and I never got a chance to explore other state’s
Durga puja. For me, Durga puja was always meant to be only in Kolkata. but this
time Bangalore proved me wrong.
It was the first day of Durga puja(6th day of Navaratri)
after office, I came home and googled ‘Durga puja celebration in Bangalore’ and
bang… I got so many addresses to visit. The count was 46. I thought maybe I
have typed incorrectly. Hence I typed again ‘Durga puja pandal near me’ this
time the result was 58. I was confused. I was not drunk. Took up my Ipad and
typed ‘Durga puja 2019’ the result is 56 this time. No this is not a joke. 56
Durga puja in Bangalore seriously???? This is what I wanted. The word is ‘
EXPLORE’... Okay, let's do it then….
Uber the saviour… booked a cab for the nearest location which
was Koramangala. The cab arrived and I wore my new USPA t-shirt with a pair of
jeans. In the app, it was showing 45 minutes to ETA. Okay, who cares. Let me
enjoy the ride. During the ride, I called my family back in Kolkata and
informed the fact of 56 pandal hopping. No one from my family believed me as
always.
Finally, I arrived at the location. I paid 86 rupees to uber.
I got down and guess what I was experiencing?? Everyone was talking in Bengali
language, smelling of burnt oil and of course Bengali songs… woo.. am I in
Bangalore or Kolkata? I was questioning myself.
But then Something Happened……….
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