Kolkata: Linguistic love displayed at Durga Puja pandal, 'Bengali' dedicated theme attracts everyone's attention

Kolkata’s Durga Puja is world-famous for its unique themes, grand pandals, and artistic idols. UNESCO has included it in its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, strengthening its recognition worldwide. From the first day of Navratri, pandals have started being decorated in different areas of Kolkata. This time, the Ashok Nagar Park Sarbojanin Durga Utsav Committee in South Kolkata has chosen a theme that promotes the Bengali language. They have named the theme ‘Bangla, Aamar Maayer Bhasha,’ which means ‘Bengali, my mother’s language.’

This theme focuses on preserving and encouraging the mother tongue of Bengalis, ‘Bengali,’ and is an attempt to connect the new generation with their roots. The pandal is completely decorated with the Bengali alphabet, where the shining decoration of vowels and consonant letters is visible all around. The design of the Durga idol is also unique, where ‘Maa Lakshmi’ and ‘Maa Saraswati,’ seated in the lap of ‘Maa Durga,’ are holding books of the Bengali alphabet, symbolizing knowledge and prosperity through language.

Young Bengalis Should Not Be Deprived of Their Language
A member of the Durga Utsav Committee explained that this time, the Bengali language is being prominently displayed through the Durga Puja pandal. The committee’s objective is that in the race for modernity, young Bengalis should not be deprived of their language, and through Durga Puja, the message should reach them that learning their language is essential. Therefore, we are promoting the Bengali language through the Durga Puja pandal.

Pictures of Bengal’s Great Personalities in the Pandals
In addition, pictures of India’s great personalities have also been put up in the pandal, which include Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. This theme connects the devotional sentiment of Navratri with cultural pride, where an exhibition of Bengali literature, poems, and folk songs has also been set up in the pandal. The enthusiasm on the streets of Kolkata is at its peak, and devotees are also being drawn towards these theme-based pandals.

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Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually in India, particularly in West Bengal, which honors the goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. While its origins are rooted in mythology, its current grand public form as a community festival with artistic temporary temples (pandals) became prominent in Bengal during the 18th century. Today, it is a vibrant celebration of art, culture, and social togetherness.

UNESCO

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, founded in 1945 to promote peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. It is best known for its World Heritage program, which identifies and helps protect cultural sites and natural landmarks of outstanding universal value across the globe.

Navratri

Navratri is a vibrant nine-night Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of the divine feminine goddess Durga. Its history is rooted in ancient mythology, commemorating the victory of the goddess over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The festival is marked by fasting, prayer, and the famous Garba and Dandiya Raas folk dances performed in community gatherings.

Bengali language

The Bengali language is an Indo-Aryan language with a rich literary history spanning over a millennium, evolving from Sanskrit and Magadhi Prakrit. It is the official language of Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, spoken by over 230 million people. The language holds immense cultural significance, notably as a central element in the Bengali Renaissance and the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh, which is commemorated annually as International Mother Language Day.

Maa Durga

Maa Durga is a principal and highly revered goddess in Hinduism, symbolizing divine power, protection, and the victory of good over evil. Her mythology is centered around her legendary battle and triumph over the shape-shifting buffalo demon Mahishasura, as described in texts like the Devi Mahatmya. She is especially worshipped during the annual festival of Navratri, which celebrates her various forms.

Maa Lakshmi

«Maa Lakshmi» is a revered Hindu goddess, not a physical place, who embodies wealth, prosperity, and fortune. She is a central figure in Hindu mythology, prominently featured in sacred texts like the Vedas and the epic story of her emergence during the churning of the cosmic ocean. Worshipped especially during the festival of Diwali, she is believed to visit and bless homes that are clean and illuminated.

Maa Saraswati

Maa Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, and learning. She is a central figure in Hindu mythology, often depicted as a serene woman dressed in white, playing the veena (a string instrument) and seated on a white lotus. While not a physical place, she is worshipped in temples and by students and artists who seek her blessings for enlightenment and creativity.

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali polymath and the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. His family estate, Jorasanko Thakur Bari in Kolkata, India, is now a museum and university that preserves his legacy. The site is historically significant as his birthplace and the place where he composed many of his famous works, including the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.