Durga Puja : Aasche Bachar Aabar Hobe ! Hip Hip Hurray!!!

Aasche Bachar Aabar Hobe ! Hip Hip Hurray!!! It's Dasami - Vijaya Dasami - the tenth day we children of Ma Durga take her on a farewell journey, after nine days of fun and frolic. As if the smell of the air changes in the October. The roads , the banal roads we travel every day , looks new with excitement. People's usual faces look brighten up. we Bengalis exalt, seeing our mental happiness reflect in the faces of passersby. The roads to Mandaps dress up with lighting and with Welcome Gates. Oh Ma! If there would have been such gaiety for the whole year, the earth would have been such a nicer place to live. Today is Vijaya Dasami - Ma Durga and Her family leaving the children of earth to return to Her Sasural in Himalayas. We are sad. Mother is carried by camel-cart with devotees following her to the Sabarmati River - the place of immersion. Today I don't know why, that dhaki is drumming a melodious tune - perhaps ...perhaps this sojourn might be his last darshan on earth with eternal mother ! Millions of Minds go blank! Dhaki beats the drum for the last hour! A few days of carefree loving attachment with mother and the puja mandap is over ! The fresh air and cheer in the air getting dampened with the dark curtains of evening shadows ....Ma Darga is slowly moving out in a procession away into the street ....the devotees are dancing and following her! The video taken by emerging photographer SM captures that special moment - the nostalgic journey of mother from Puja Mandap to immersion ghat, devotees shouting with sudden hope among all round despair on Ma's leaving us - Aasche Bachar Aabar Hobe! Ma! we will see You Again in the coming Sarat Kal( season of Autumn) ! Aabar Kassh Phool Phutbe Mathe! Aabar Siuli phhol bheja rastai aasbe tumi notun aagomoni gaan niye!![ Again the rural field would get filled with Kash flowers! Again you will return with new Agamani songs on the due soaked rural roads filled with fallen siuli petals]

Devotees line up and touches Ma 's feet before Her family's sojourn to her In-laws home.

The nostalgic moment - the eternal family of ours take Adieu! That's life's cycle - that we devotes would perhaps don't like to repeat. But one day we have to adieu all our near and dear ones !

Video Link Below - The video taken by emerging photographer SM captures that special moment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDmgQ79IJHk

Durga Puja in Gujarat 2011 - the famous Dhunuchi Dance of Bengal

A prayer with incense burning before the Durga Idol, priest's chanting of Vedic hymns, the beats of Dkak ( drum) and Kasor-ghonta. And the devotees offer prayer to Goddess Durga throuch an intricate dance holding dhunuchi ( an earthen pot with a holder) - with half-burnt hot red dried coconut strips. As the dance in trance, other devotes surround the dancers and get immersed in the sea of emotion and love for their eternal Ma, Mother Durga - the Durgatinashini - the slayer of the evil forces from the society.

Video is shot by emerging young photographer SM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1bKF4Gr_QA&feature=related

The sound of dhak on Ashtami eve in Durga Mandap at Ahmedabad

The beats of Dhang-Kur-Kur. Listen to the Dhak( the drums), folk instrumental music of Bengal which goes deep down into the ritualistic tradition of Durga Puja. This decaying clan of dhakis ( the drummers are often called) are on the decline due to economic reason. But a puja is incomplete without Ma Durga listening to the jugol-bandhi beats of dhak and kasor. These dhakis here, came from far flung Bengal, from the district of Medinipore, travelling 3 days on the road to reach the venue. Dhak for Dhaki is an occupation carried through generations but those who carry the tradition carry the passion for the folk music which is clearly evident in this video - coming from the lens of promising emerging photographer SM.


The video link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68nVI8hAOZA&feature=autoshare