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Rooted in their tradition

BERHAMPUR: Although away from their home State West Bengal for the past many years, Bengali families of the city continue to stick to their culture and tradition through Durga puja.

These families started the first mass idol worship of goddess Durga in this trading centre bordering Andhra Pradesh some 74 years ago. With time, the number of puja pandals has multiplied manifolds. But, the first pandal of this city started by Bengali families led by Indra Mohan Palit in 1934 still survives. Durga puja was first performed at Malgodam Street near the railway station. Now, it is being celebrated at its permanent pandal at Durga Badi near the old bus stand. The puja committee is named Adi Durga Puja Committee to denote that it as the first puja committee of the city.

Its president Ashok Kumar Jana says the committee performs Durga puja, Lakshmi puja and Kali puja every year, strictly adhering to the rituals and tradition of Bengal. It is the only puja pandal in the city where rituals are performed to the beats of ‘dhak’, the traditional drum of Bengal.

The five days from ‘mahasasthi’ to ‘mahadasami’ is also time for the annual cultural get-together. People of all ages practise for weeks to perform Rabindra Sangeet, Baul or Nazrul Sangeet as well as Bengali folk dance recitals during the cultural shows. To keep alive the love for their mother tongue, they also conduct competitions in Bengali poetry writing.

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