Durga Puja in Nagpur Celebrates 117th Year of Home Away from Home for Bengalis

DURGA PUJA 2023: Nearly 1200 kilometers away from the bustling metropolis of Kolkata, the city of Nagpur in Maharashtra comes alive during the Durga Puja festival. For the Bengali community in Nagpur, Durga Puja is a time to celebrate their culture and heritage, and to connect with their roots.

Durga Puja in Nagpur traces its origins back to the arrival of Bengalis who came to work for the Bengal Nagpur Railway, established nearly 240 years ago.

The Durga Puja celebrations at Dinanath High School in Nagpur are particularly special. This year marks the 117th year of Durga Puja celebrations at the school, making it one of the oldest and most revered Durga Puja pandals in Nagpur.

The idol of Goddess Durga at Dinanath High School is of the Ek Chaali pattern, which is a unique style of Durga idol making that originated in Bengal. The idol is made of clay collected from the banks of the Ganges River, and it is said to be one of the most beautiful and intricate Durga idols in India.

Every year, lakhs of devotees visit the Dinanath High School Durga Puja pandal to witness the grand idol of Goddess Durga and to offer their prayers. The pandal is also known for its exuberant 11-day mela, which features food stalls, games, and cultural performances.

Dinanath High School is also famous for its notable alumni, including actress Jaya Bachchan, actor Basanta Choudhury, and actor Asit Kumar Sen.

On the day of Ashtami, which is the eighth day of the Durga Puja festival, devotees offer pushpanjali to Goddess Durga. Pushpanjali is a ritual in which devotees offer flowers and prayers to the Goddess. After the pushpanjali ritual, devotees are served traditional bhog at the pandal.

Bhog is a vegetarian feast that is prepared using fresh and seasonal ingredients. The bhog at Dinanath High School is known for its delicious taste and its authentic Bengali flavour.

For the Bengali community in Nagpur, the Durga Puja celebrations at Dinanath High School are a time to come together and celebrate their culture and heritage. It is also a time to connect with their roots and to cherish the memories of their homeland.

Lakhs Of Devotees Flock To The Pandal

1. The Durga Puja pandal is set up in the school grounds and is decorated with colourful lights and flowers.
2. The idol of Goddess Durga is placed in the center of the pandal, surrounded by idols of her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya and daughters Saraswati and Lakshmi.
3. The pandal is open to the public for 11 days, visited by lakhs of devotees from all over India.
4. The pandal also hosts a variety of cultural events, such as dance performances, music concerts, and plays.
5. On the day of Ashtami, a special puja is performed at the pandal, and devotees offer pushpanjali to Goddess Durga.
6. After the pushpanjali ritual, devotees are served traditional bhog at the pandal.

The Durga Puja celebrations at Dinanath High School in Nagpur are a truly unique and special experience. It is a time for the Bengali community to come together and celebrate their culture and heritage. It is also a time to connect with their roots and to cherish the memories of their homeland.

The organising committee comprises of Pradip Kumar Maitra, President, Bengali Association and Bengali Education Society; Sujit Sengupta, Treasurer, Bengali Association; Pradip Ganguly, secretary, Bengali Education Society; Ajit Bose, Joint Secretary, Bengali Education Society; Ranjit Roy, secretary, Bengali Association, and CS Saha, Vice president, Bengali Association.