Kali Puja 2023: 34 Types Of Bhog To Sacrificial Offerings- Age Old Traditions Blend With Modernity At A Household Puja In Howrah
The preparations for this puja commence right after Durga Puja, with the framework being assembled on the day of Lakshmi Puja.
The tradition of Kali Puja commenced around 170 years ago at the Banerjee household in the Domjur region near the Hooghly river. The preparations for this puja commence right after Durga Puja, with the framework being assembled on the day of Lakshmi Puja. The unique aspect of the household puja lies in the offering of 34 different types of bhog to the goddess.
Talking about the Banerjee family, they happened to share a close relationship with the renowned Andul Rajbari. Over time, the puja shifted from Domjur to Kadamtala, finding its way to a familial abode where family members across generations gather together for the worship of Maa Kali, enthusiastically taking part in the various rituals which go on all night, till dawn.
The day begins with the preparation of this special bhog which comprises rice, luchi (fried bread), ghonto (mixed vegetable dish), various types of lentils, fried items, sweets, three types of fish dishes, roshogolla, kheer, yogurt, and chanachur (mixture). The offering also includes the revered 'mahaprasad' which is prepared after sacrificing a goat before the goddess. It is then offered to he deity during the midnight sacrificial ritual.
Going back in time, the celebration has witnessed its fair share of events. One year, during the shift of puja from Kadamtala back to the ancestral home in Domjur, a perilous incident occurred during the sacrificial ritual. It so happened that Gobardhan Bandopadhyay, a significant figure in the family, accidentally tripped over the sacrificial pit during the offering but luckily, a major mishap was avoided. The following year saw the return of the puja to Kadamtala.
The women brigade of the household considers this puja as the soul of their traditions and they play a pivotal role in the preparation of narus (coconut sweets) and khoi bhajas (a kind of puffed rice), and their contribution to the puja is indeed invaluable.
Old to young, women across different generations of the Banerjee household partake in the preparations, from cooking the numerous items offered as bhog to drawing the alpana, and doing all other nitty gritties.
On the day of Kali Puja, the Banerjee household is illuminated with lights and lamps, as family members from far and near reunite for the worship of Maa Kali. Garbed in traditional attire, they work endlessly throughout the night, yet find time for chatter, fun, frolic and laughter. Thus, an eventful night passes amid dancing, dhaak, feast and lights.
As the city goes to sleep after Diwali celebrations, Banerjee household stays awake till the wee hours of dawn engaging in prayers and devotion of Maa Kali.
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