DUGGA DUGGA

Today, as I sat down with a cup of coffee & my laptop, saw the date at the corner-I suddenly realized it’s the last week of September & a spark of joy crept into my heart!!Because this is the time for the intoxicating fragrance of shiuli & chatim, blooming of the kaash ,changing color of the autumn sky, sound of dhaak, gentle breeze, rolling in the bed to the mellifluous chants of mahalaya, hustle-bustle of crazy shoppers, new clothes, a fine blend of family & friends along with lip smacking food &sweets. No matter where one is located ,but the feeling of  "Maa Ashchen"(the coming of goddess Durga) is what every Bengali waits for eagerly and connects us to our ancestral homes in Bengal.

Well, by now it's clear that this post is dedicated to the festival of Durga Puja. India is a potpourri of cultures, religion & diverse colorful festivals .Durga puja is just not a celebration but holds unparalleled tradition & cultural heritage. So for those who do not have much knowledge about this festival, let’s begin with the basics. What is Durga puja??  Durga puja or Sharodotsav(festival of autumn) is a 6 day Hindu festival that celebrates the worship of Goddess Durga ,her strength and victory over the evil demon Mahishasur!History suggests that it was first celebrated in the 1500's by the Zamindars of Dinajpur.Later the "Baroyari pujo" gave way to today's "Sarbojanin"(committee)pujas since 1910.It begins with the chanting of "Mahishasurmardini" on Mahalaya ,7 days before the main puja.Starting at 4 a.m. ,it is a 2 hour Radio Program chanted in the voice of legendary Late.Biren Bhadra & Pankaj Kr.Mullick since the 1950's.Traditionally,the five sculptures of Goddess Durga & her children were depicted in a single frame called " Pata".These 6 days is like the biggest Festival of Art on Earth with each Pandal (makeshift structures) depicting fantastic themes, streets gleaming with lights, people in their best traditional avatars,finishing plates of "khichdi bhog" and the beautiful "dhunuchi" dance. The festival ends with "boron" & "shindoor khela" and the departure of the deity to her home &husband Shiva in the Himalayas with her "bhashan"(immersion) in the holy waters.

No matter where you are born & brought up, can a Bengali escape the Durga Puja fever??? A Probashi(a Bengali who doesn't live or isn't brought up in Bengal) or not, a "Bangali" is a bangali!..and I'm proud to be one-truly, madly deeply!!!  Pujas  moved to Delhi with the change of the British capital from Kolkata , and I moved to Delhi 14 years back and since then I have enjoyed each of my Pujas here ,one better than the other. I feel one need not be in Bengal{as people of Bengal suggest ;-)} to feel like a Bengali and connect to Maa & pujo .Although a probashi , I totally feel rooted &connected to my culture and our hearts are always ready to celebrate. No doubts that the grandeur that Kolkata pujo holds is like no other but we the "probashi community" -whether it be  C.R.Park in Delhi or Camden in London, Bay area in Sanfrancisco or Purbachal Maryland in the U.S.A -have our share of joy and celebration....pretty homely and thematic pandals ,traditional idols, cultural functions,anandamela,early morning anjalis followed by games ,serving bhog,pandal hopping,dhunuchi dance, "adda", and...some more adda! For us, what keeps pujas ticking 1000's of miles away from Bengal is our nostalgic ties with our homeland & longing to remain connected to our roots. So all my Probashi friends out there, remember we are as much "truly bangalis" as any other non-probashi!!...Hence, 3 cheers to us;-)

This big festival paves way to a grand fashion fiesta where people flaunt their best personal styles...and being a designer myself, a li'l tip on the trends this festive season is the best way to end this post. Most people are seen wearing traditional attires, but going traditional doesn't mean going outmoded & devoid of style, right??? So here are some looks to stand out in the crowd and turn some heads around this Pujo!                                                                                     LOOK 1:                                                                                                                                               Color blocking  & Pastels are in vogue right now. Also stock a lot of blue(s) and orange(s) as they are "the" colors of this festive season. Basically, Warm shades for Indian wear and Muted ice-cream shades for western wear.

LOOK 2:                                                                                                                                        Women can go absolutely traditional with rich Benarasi silk saris, or the typical red-white/gold white combination beautiful cotton handloom saris with gold jewellery and big red bindi. One can also adorn the modern avatar with bold checks & plaids in saris with full sleeves/halter neck/Nehru blouses.

For more of tie-dye silk-chiffon saris with modern styling, visit - https://www.facebook.com/KSRfashion 

                                                                                                                          LOOK3:                                                                                      

Ladies...you can also go for Indo-Western with flowy palazzos , linen pants,long maxi skirts along with ethnic printed shirts or kurtis with statement accessories. High waisted midis,culottes with cropped tops are also ruling the trend.

                                                                                                                                                     LOOK4:                                                                                       
For the men ,traditional Dhuti-Panjabi or Pyjama-Panjabi is a must. Linen or Khesh pants teamed with earthy, printed shirts/t-shirts or short kurtis styled with some scarves or stoles is also a very interesting option .

For some more smart khesh pants , visit - https://www.facebook.com/KSRfashion

                                                                                                                                LOOK5:                                                                                   

Nehru jackets or Cropped jackets over printed kurtas or shirts are a hit for both the sexes. Also forget the jholas and opt for some oversized Hobo bags this season.

For some more trendy mirror  waistcoats ,visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/JAPPI/884526974897385

Hence,it will be a heady mix of ethnic prints, modern silhouettes, traditional handloom saris with cholis and a lot of vibrant colors. So guys, love your culture, have a fantastic Durga puja, keep it stylish & be a StyloHolic ;-)!! Till then, this is Sohini signing off & as we say in Bengali “DUGGA -DUGGA" (God Bless!!).   

                                                                                                      Keep following, much Love.