Gopal Swaminathan

Durga Poojo: The Triumph of the good over evil

The Making: In the byelanes of Kumartuli, the structures have no whiff of their future splendor…
The statues wait for someone to select them, not knowing which Pandal they will decorate. In which year.
The earth from a sex worker’s door step is usually mixed in these idols. Symbolically, it says that men leave their goodness at the door step when they visit a sex worker – the soil from therein is laden with virtue. The idols sit and wonder which wizened God will they are destined to become.
Sometimes, they idly day dream about their days in front of the crowds. Who amongst us, they wonder, will be part of a Pandal that wins an award?
Slowly, they get the hint.. as artisans toil for hours, molding the frames with clay from the banks of Ganga. What a transformation they will go through.
Your Journey: Doesn’t the City of Joy just transform itself into a giant carnival to welcome Durga Ma for those 10 days…
Feverish dhak rolls warm you up…
As the frenzied Danuchi dancers swirl around in Arthi for Durga Ma
Estimated to be a $6B (yes $, yes B) for 2015, the Durga Puja industry impacts many fortunes, including Chinese plastic makers who supply indescribable marquees…
Brands have a field day. Sponsorship galore. And why not, there are ~30K Pandals and 3 million people… it is the greatest buying season. [Can you spot McDowells No. 1 on the screen… they are promoting Pure Aqua:)]
Ask for the Asian Paints Pandal guide – they have plotted the most optimal path for you tonight – hopping onto may be 10 pandals over 4 hours and 6 kms…
You get the first glimpse of Durga Ma and you realize why a million others thought it was a journey worthy of its effort. Durga Pooja has been a phenomena since 1650s – but the overwhelming British presence in India’s capital of the yore, gave it the socio-cultural significance. In the 1700s it was a way of the British traders to say that they were “Indianised”.
By the 1800s it was a protest movement by the Bengalee Hindus against the traders who have now turned rulers. The Durga Poojo was seen as a symbol of awakening the national consciousness against the British rule. So, there are multiple dimensions weaved into it – music, dance, poem, art and of course, the Food! And the momentum only grows every passing year…
You lumber your way past and there is just one man between you and God. Suddenly, you hear drum beat and the Priest gets into a frenzied dance ringing the bell in rhythm.
You marvel the million lights. You think about the tribe that designs, invests in these Pandals. Manage it for 10 days? Dont even go there. Electricity for the visual splendor in a power starved state? God only knows how it gets done. Raising the funds? No rational ROI calculation will stand the scrutiny of CFOs.You find no logical answers. And then you realize the depth of the phenomena. It is fueled by social will power. This is no effort – this is desire. This is the overwhelming desire of the peoples to celebrate Durga Ma.
And then you come face to face with Durga Ma. In all her glory and splendor, riding her lion, killing evil with righteous rage. The evil is vanquished with one furious stroke of Ma’s trident.
As you jostle, in a sublime second you eyes meet her reassuring eyes. The moment overwhelms you. With the evil annihilated, you believe that the world has become a better place. And hence it has become one. | Like. No. Other. Durga Pooja. Kolkata 2013.

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