Purists bat for devotion as themes take centre stage for Pujas organisers

With themes becoming the prime concern of Durga Puja organisers, a section of purists feel devotion is taking a backseat. Durga Puja celebrations are all about catching the first rush of visitors and achieving maximum footfall.

A Calcutta High Court lawyer, who believes organisers following proper procedures of puja and emphasis on devotion, should be promoted.

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He has started an award named Nistha Shreshtha Puja Samman, where scholars Dr. Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri and Dr. Jayanta Kushari will judge pujas concentrating on the rituals and the correct code of conduct.

Dr Nrishingha Prasad Bhaduri, an upholder of tradition, says according to Raghunandana Bhattacharya, the famous Sanskrit scholar in 16th Century, none of the pujas like Janmashtami, Ram Navami were called an utsav (celebration), whereas he called Durga Puja as Durgotsav.

“There is no harm if bodhon (invoking the goddess) happens before Sasthi. People are ignorant. Bodhon starts from tarpan time which begins from Pratipad and culminates on Mahalaya. The Krishna Navami in Krishna Paksha (the tenure of black moon) is the time when the first bodhon happens. This falls in the Pitri Paksha. After bodhon, till Satami, an abridged Durga Puja has to be performed every day. So, there is no harm in inauguration of Pujas before Sasthi and doing bodhan,” says Dr Bhaduri, dispelling notions that the early Durga Puja inaugurations are breaking the tradition.

Dr Bhaduri says as judge he will see if the pujas are being done with devotion, following all rituals and if the treatment is right.

“We will check for the decoration in the mandap (porch). But, we must remember we are living in the 21st century and we need to have a liberal view of things. We will see if there is personal touch in a community puja.

Dr Jayanta Kushary, principal of Sarbabharatiya Prachyavidya Academy, is another judge of the Nistha Shreshtha Puja Samman.

Durga Puja is central to Durgotsav. “If we consider puja as the head and utsav, the tail, then nowadays the tail is driving the head. The corporate houses are highlighting just the celebration but not much emphasis is on the puja (read worship). Theme is all-important. We are trying to bring back the focus on the puja aspect, even my training camps are also a step in that direction. The training camp also includes the Durga Puja organisers, so that they also are aware of its importance. The adarsh acharan (ideal code of conduct), rituals is important,” said Dr Kushary. The scholar says that even the ‘mantra uccharan’ (recitation of the verses) should also get importance. “Let the celebrations become even more grandiose, the magnitude heighten and generate more revenue, there is nothing wrong with that. The idol of the goddess should be based on a framed structure, which is solid. But we see that many organisers worship a smaller idol which is hollow. This should be avoided,” said Dr Kushary.