The colours of diversity

Enchanting 'Pandals'

The City is filled with vibrance as every community is involved in celebrating Dasara. Apart from Kannadigas, Bengalis, Gujaratis, Punjabis and Assamese have made grand pandals to worship the divine force.

Apart from doll shopping, South Indians are also pandal hopping’ to pray to the protibas. The history and story of Dasara have evolved from different myths and manifested over time. This is often forgotten in the humdrum of celebrations. 

Durga Puja, one of the most important festivals of the Bengali community, is being celebrated with pomp and energy. Currently in the sixth year of celebrations, the executive committee member of the Sarjapur Bengali Association says, “According to the Bengali community, Maa Durga is considered as the daughter, who is coming from her husband’s house in Kailash. This is a way of welcoming our daughter.

The planning takes place over three months wherein an artiste comes from Kolkata to recreate the murthis. It’s difficult to simulate the atmosphere of Kolkata because but we Bengalis can never miss the pujo,” he says.

During Panchami, ladies prepare food and share it with everyone and different in-house cultural programmes like Bengali folk songs and dances will be held over Navarathri. He adds, “During Ashtami, a special pooja called sandhi pooja will take place. This time, as Ashtami and Navami are occurring on the same day, celebrations will take place early morning and 108 ‘diyas’ will be lit for ‘Durga Maa’.”

 Cultural events like Rabindrasangeet and rock band nights are also an important part and are put up by the Bengalee Association every year. In the Assamese community, Dasara dates back to the time when a king decided to worship an earthen sculpture of Durga. Pranjal, the secretary of the Assamese Society, describes the festival with excitement ringing in his voice.

The Assamese Society of Bangalore started the celebrations from September 30 and on Shashti, a movie screening was held. A number of cultural programmes like group song, dance performances by Mizo Associations and Chithkala School Of Dance, Bihu dance and plays are lined up.

 For a bit more blitzkrieg, a North-East fashion show will also be held.

  As the society heralds its second year of celebrations, the group has decorated their pandals with lights and sculptures. “Preparations started four months back for donations, marketing, bringing in a pandit from Assam and establishing the idol. We can’t completely recreate what happens in Assam as markets are bustling in Guwahati but we try to celebrate it grandly here,” says Pranjal. 

The early morning offering of flowers, Pushpanjali, followed by Bhog are common to both communities.   

The diversity is added by the Gujarati Samaj through Dandiya and Garba dance, which starts around 10 am on Saptami and goes on till 3 am. Girish, the manager, says competitions like dress, dance and Rangoli are the highlights. 

“We also celebrate the festival by burning three effigies of Ravana as for Gujaratis, this is a time when Ram returns to Ayodhya,” he adds. 

Gujaratis also believe that this is the day when Panch Pandavas get back their weapons after ‘Vanvaas’.  

Dasara is celebrated in the form of Mata Ki Chowki, two days before ‘Navarathri’, to invoke and awaken the Goddess by the Punjabi community. 

Celebrations happen in Jayamahal Palace and the nine dimensions of Shakthi are worshipped. Sanjay Bhasin says that the festival sees a gathering of over 1, 500 people sing bhajans and take prasadam while certain devotees observe a fast.   

Devi Visarjan is also an intricate aspect of all communities. Through a confluence of communities, Dasara indicates is a social celebration for fun where the religious aspect takes a backseat.