Bengali family keeps tradition alive

Bengalis are celebrating Navami, the last day of Durga puja on Saturday.
The Haatkhola Dutta Bari in north Kolkata has a unique way of celebrating Durga Puja that dates back to over two centuries.

The bonedi or joint family can take pride in keeping alive a tradition of worship that is 250 years long. 'I am the 28th generation. It's an honour. It's definitely an honour for a long long time we are performing it. We are trying to maintain the theme of the Puja with all its intricacies with all its which has been followed by generations with all our might,'' said Sushanta Dutta, a member of the family

''Many have moved away but during the Pujas we all meet up and it's a very happy occasion when we relive a tradition that is more than 250 years old,'' said Deepali Dutta, another member.

The tradition dates back to 1794 when Jagat Ram Dutta, the Diwan of the British East India Company and patriarch of the Haatkhola Dutta Bari, held the Durga Pujas for the first time.
At the Haatkhola Duttabari puja there is no boli or animal sacrifice.

''You have seen our Puja Thakur. The lion is in the shape of a horse. The Barwari Pujas are not like that. The speciality in our structure is the chalchitra in the background. There are three separate chalchitras with specific drawings which we maintain year to year,'' said Alok Dutta.

Courtesy:NDTV
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