Festivals
Durga Puja, as it is in the rest of West Bengal, is the most popular festival in Behala. The family Durga Puja celebration of the Sabarna Roy Choudhurys, launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, is the oldest recorded Durga Puja observation in Behala as well as the second oldest in western Bengal. Today altogether six Durga Pujas are being held in the Barisha branch of the family: Aatchala, Baro Bari, Mejo Bari, Benaki Bari, Kalikingkar Bhawan and Majher Bari. Durga Puja is also observed by many other old families of this area as well as by numerous local clubs. Such clubs include Behala Debdaru Fatak, Mukul Sangha, Behala Natun Dal, Behala Jatiya Sangha, Behala Club, Barisha Club (amalgamation of Srishti and Sahajatri clubs), Sree Sangha, Adarsha Pally, Nandana Yuba Sangha, Behala Young Men’s etc. Most of these clubs has won various prestigious Sharad Sammans or Durga Puja awards and attracts a large crowd of visitors from the other parts of the city every year. Jora Mandir Haldar Barir Durga Pujo (Beside Canton Restaurant - Behala Thana Stoppage) is one of the oldest Durga Pujas of Kolkata. It has crossed its 300 yrs of commencement. The puja is conducted by the descedants of Lakkhi Narayan Haldar inside there premises. The Griha Devata is Shiva and Narayan.
Kali Puja is also observed with great reverence in Behala. A 15-day fair is held at Parnasree Pally by Sarkari Abasan (Behala College ground), Parnasree Club and Surja Sangha during Kali Puja. Shankar Paik’s Kali Puja at Pathakpara attracts many people not only for the colourful soirees but also for the Sada Kali (white Kali) idol along with traditional puja of Behala Bijoyee Sangha at Manton. Yuva Gosthi at Roybahadur Road arranges an Annakut festival during Kali Puja. Other noted Kali Pujas are observed at Jayrampur Jala, Rabindra Nagar, Begor Khal, Sreema Palli areas. Behala Siddeshwari Kali Temple and Halder's Kali Temple at Behala Bazar attracts many people during the occasion. Among the family Kali Puja celebrations, the houses of Bhabani Bala Dasi and Shib Dulal Basu are quite famous.
There are famous Jagatdhatri Pujas also. Local Clubs like Behala Siksha Mandir (Bhangadalan), Behala Bandhu Dal, Dhali Para Sarbojonin are most prominent among them. They Celebrate this puja like Durga Puja for 5–6 days with many cultural programs and events.
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Famous quotes containing the word festivals:
“Why wont they let a year die without bringing in a new one on the instant, cant they use birth control on time? I want an interregnum. The stupid years patter on with unrelenting feet, never stopping—rising to little monotonous peaks in our imaginations at festivals like New Year’s and Easter and Christmas—But, goodness, why need they do it?”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“This is certainly not the place for a discourse about what festivals are for. Discussions on this theme were plentiful during that phase of preparation and on the whole were fruitless. My experience is that discussion is fruitless. What sets forth and demonstrates is the sight of events in action, is living through these events and understanding them.”
—Doris Lessing (b. 1919)