Prayers to Goddess Durga with a western touch

Navdurga Samiti -- a puja organising committee in Barabanki district, some 30 km from Lucknow -- has come up with audio compact discs (CDs) of the modern version of Durga Saptashati.

"Put simply, we have blended the traditional Durga Saptashati with modern music," convener of the Navdurga Samiti P.K. Roy told IANS.
"Nowadays, generally youth don't find listening to holy scriptures interesting. Taking this into account we experimented with the idea of giving a western music touch to the Durga Saptashati. Listening to it with western beats will surely give you an altogether new experience," he added.

According to the committee members, they have used the keyboard, drums, synthesizer and other western musical instruments to give the western effect to the rendering.
"Though we have used western music, we have managed to retain the true aesthetic flavour of the scripture," said Roy.

"Due to this, not just the youth, but elders too would like to listen to it," he said.
Navdurga Samiti is distributing the audio CDs free of cost in Barabanki, Lucknow and adjoining districts.

"In the first phase, we have set a target to distribute as many as 2,000 CDs, mainly to the youth," said Roy, the brain behind the idea.
The CD, which has 11 songs, contains "the gist of the scripture", said Roy. The puja committee completes 40th years this year.