Transcending the boundaries of Mumbai, where Lord Ganesha rules, worship of the elephant-headed god has become popular in the city where mother goddess rules. Ganesha Puja, introduced in public spaces by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak in then Bombay province on the lines of Bengal바카라s Durga Puja, has now become popular in Kolkata, a metropolis whose citizens have many devotees of goddesses Kali and Durga.
After low-key celebrations in the last two years due to curbs imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ganesha Puja this year is being held in a grand manner here. The demand for Ganesha idols had grown so much this time that some artisans of the city바카라s clay modellers hub, Kumartuli, had to turn down last-minute orders.
"Ganesha Pujas across the city and its outskirts have gone up in the last 10 years. Generally, I make only Durga idols, but this year I had to take several orders for Ganesha 바카라murtis바카라," master artisan Sanatan Pal said.
At Muraripukur in central Kolkata, Abhishek Das, a member of a Ganesha puja committee, said 15 friends had come together way back in 2008 to start Ganesha Chathurthi celebrations. "When we started Ganesha Puja here, in ward number 14 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, artisans used to make only three idols," he said.
"Anyone visiting their workshops this year will get to see at least 30 to 40 idols of Lord Ganesha there. Many people in and around the area have started organising the puja in the last few years,바카라 Das said. Joydip Raha of Parnasree Pally Ganesha Pujo Committee in Behala had a similar experience to share.
Around 270 people, who would frequent a cafe, had joined hands some 10 years back to organize Ganesha Chathurthi. "Even five years ago, two such pujas were held near our locality. Now the count has risen to eight or nine,바카라 Raha said. Amites Mukhopadhyay, professor of sociology at Jadavpur University, cited lack of formal employment, rising unemployment as reasons for many people to engage in the business of religion and to diversify into new Pujas.
"Festivals and pujas help break the monotony. Also, Bengalis are no longer associated just with white collar jobs. Times and mindset have also changed over the years. Many Bengalis are into different kinds of businesses, interest in the god associated with businesses has thus increased," he added.
For Babua Bhowmik, who has been organising Ganesha Puja for many years in the city바카라s Ultadanga area, welcomed the new trend. "I have been organising this puja for the last 40 years. Not many people or clubs used to celebrate it then. In a way, it is a welcome trend because clay modellers across the city, including those at Kumartuli, are getting more work, leading to more business," Bhowmik said.
Dr Angshuman Sarkar, professor of sociology at Government Girls General Degree College in the Ekbalpur area of the city, explaining the new trend pointed out, "You must have noted that more and more people in various localities have started organising Jagadhatri Puja too."
The puja was earlier mainly celebrated in Chandannagore and Krishnanagar. "From the sociological perspective, I think the increase in number of pujas is because people are trying to divert their minds from all kinds of problems just to feel better and to relieve themselves from daily tension, stress, anxiety, and insecurity,바카라 the professor told PTI over phone.
The sociologist predicted that Ganesha Puja will soon have themes as seen in Durga Puja in the city. 바카라Various puja organisers are competing with each other 바카라 be it with idols, pandals or decorations. They want to turn their Puja into crowd-pullers,바카라 the professor, a resident of Salt Lake, said.
(With PTI inputs)
