DURGA PUJA AGARTALA 2010

t still brings a vibe of newness every coming year for generation of every age.The fun starts with Mahalaya announcing the countdown of the goodness coming.Mahalaya is a day to get up early and the holy chants ringing in the ears, children going out with parents in the early morning to check out the preparations of the various pandals hoisted by clubs and associations.It is just like spreading the colours to give the demonstration of the beautiful painting to be done.Youth gear up with their own style to impress others.Anyways it forms a part of happiness within them.As God says “Happiness is real if u can find it within yourself”.And middle age just finds an opportunity to gather their family with the same knot of happiness.A preparation to bring the closed ones together more closer sharing gifts, cards as well traditional dresses. God also says “Happiness becomes more rich when you see your loved ones happy”.So eternal happiness is the reality that we enjoy in the shadow of celebrating this festival.The long wait for a year comes closer as the countdown zeroes into five days of shear celebration namely Shasti ,Saptami, Ashtami,Navami and Dashami.Shasti gives the opening of the window to the prayers.On this day tradionally Goddess Durga is provided with vision undergoing several religious ceremonies and rituals.It in turns indicates to open our eyes and accept the blessings with open hands.Saptami, Ashtami and Navami goes on with series of rituals and pujas to be performed by the priests in the name of holy God.Dashami is a mixed celebration.It is the day when the good empowers the bad.The good prevails and we bid adieu to Goddess Durga with crying eyes and a smiling face expecting her return again next year.This is just information about the traditional puja and rituals.But to explain what actually it is to a greater extent is just unexpressable as we seldom find words to share when we become very very happy. It is celebrated in all over the country with different rituals some celebrate it as Dushera, some as Karthigai pujam and for the Bengali folks all over the world its Durgoutsav. The whole country gets into the joy of celebrations. The eastern part of the country gets a higher dose of this festive addiction. And its incense covers our very own state Tripura situated at north eastern part of India. Tripura’s capital Agartala remains the spearhead to the celebrations. People all around the state travel to the city for getting a glimpse of the extravagant bonanza.The city has been recently connected with the railway services and it will form an efficient mode of transport during the festive time. The city decorates itself as a bride. And we the citizens of Agartala add four moons to it. We come up with new ideas, creativities of our own trademark, coloring the town.The whole city is lightened up with electrical decorations as well. The city becomes a shopping hub. Stalls are opened at every nook and corner of the city. Even the smallest stall pulls a huge crowd. This occasion gives a huge turn over to the economy of the state.Howkers corner,Bazaar Kolkata,Jagat Bazaar,Swasti Market,Shakuntla market,City centre are some of the reputed shopping centres of the city. Textiles for every age old is available at these places.Well known branded stores have come up around the city like Lee, Levis,Wrangler,Raymonds,Addidas,Reebok,Belmonte,John Players,Peter England,Ginni and Johny etc. For jewelery have a visit to Gitanjali Jewelers,Tanishq,P C Chandra jewelers,Shyam sundar jewelers ,Kalika Jewelers. Well decorated, innovative pandals are hoisted by clubs and associations to attract people. There is a competition held by the state government for the best all round performance of the clubs based on decoration, discipline, maintenance & other categories. At the end of the festival a honoray trophy is awarded to the winning club. Some of the clubs are reputed for their ceremonial presentation as they have been hoisting classic design of pandals year after year in the past. They implement orthodox creativity and are a huge attraction to people.Durga bari,Prabhu bari,Shiva Bari,Dashmighat, Pole star club, Ramthakur sangha, Chittaranjan club, MBB club, Shantipara, Joynagar play centre, Dashdiganta club, Aguntuk club, Pragati club,Ageya chalo club,Lal Bahadur vyamagar,Bishalgarh,
Usha Bazzar are some of the reputed clubs and are worth visiting.Standard eatery places gives rest to our appetite.Eatopia Zannat,Ginger,Kurry Klub, Bawarchi,Invitation,Aparupa,Ashoka are a list of crowd pulling family restaurants. The city upgrades itself into multi layered security blocking the city traffic from 4 pm-12 am during the four days of the puja.Private transport is abandoned within the city allowing only emergency vehicles to ply.New city traffic points are positioned. Mobile police booths are installed in every corner of the city to keep a vigil on the social discipline. Overall the festival is an heartful social interaction among every strata of people. It is a period of joy when people gather keeping behind all their sorrows and accept the blessings of goddess Durga with open hands and smilling face .It is a shear experience which is unmatchable to any other festival around the year. The celebration has been described here in words which comes nowhere near to the grand ceremony until you see it with your own eyes. It’s a blessing to us being a part of this celebration .So I would love to have you on board in this DURGA PUJA 2010 to have a glimpse of our culture.Citizens of Agartala professionally settled in other states and NRIS would love to come to their home town.So stay tuned !! Join my page and suggest others too, I will look forward to your suggestions and feedbacks.