Durga puja in Kolkata: The family that offers five kinds of fish to the goddess
The Bandyopadhyay family in Kolkata continues a 237-year-old Durga Puja tradition that includes unique rituals and specific food offerings. The idol features an unusual arrangement of deities and a distinct depiction of the demon Mahishasura based on a family dream.
Why it matters
It documents the preservation of cultural heritage and unique religious traditions within the context of one of India's largest festivals.
Durga puja in Kolkata: The family that offers five kinds of fish to the goddess left The 237-year-old goddess Sombuddha Banerjee https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/ipqazq/article71587889.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/125048155_3385208551534552_6781538307561491931_n.jpg In a 237-year-old Durga puja in Behala, hilsa is offered to the goddess on Navami. The rituals, heirloom recipes and Dhakai jewellery of the Bandyopadhyay family preserve the food traditions and cultural heritage of their East Bengal homeland The priest, his back bent with age, steps into the thakur dalan (courtyard), where a 237-year-old goddess stands. He lifts a great brass lamp, its flames leaping into the air, and his frail frame begins to sway to the insistent rhythm of the dhaak. Through the incense-thick air, he traces the contours of the mighty goddess with circles of fire, illuminating her face, then letting it recede into shadow.
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