Durga Puja: Experience It Through Picture & Narration
A first-hand account of the Durga Puja at our home in Ruppur, from idol making and Mahalaya to Sandhi Puja, Kumari Puja, Darpan Visarjan and the traditions unique to the Chattopadhyay family.
Stories & articles
Stories from our family Puja
History, rituals, recipes and memories from a Bonedi Bari Durga Puja, written by the family.
What is a sabeki Durga Puja?
What "sabeki" means, how a sabeki Durga Puja differs from a theme puja, and why Bonedi Bari pujas like ours in Howrah still keep the old ways — the ekchala pratima, daker saaj and the family's own rituals.
What makes a Bonedi Bari Durga Puja different?
Bonedi Bari pujas are Bengal's oldest family Durga Pujas. Here is what sets them apart from community pandals — the Thakur Dalan, the ekchala pratima, the puthi and the bhog.
Sandhi Puja: the 48 minutes at the heart of Durga Puja
Why Sandhi Puja is the holiest moment of Durga Puja, what 108 lotuses and 108 lamps mean, and how we observe it at our 145-year-old family Puja.
Kola Bou and the nine sacred plants of Nabapatrika
Who is Kola Bou? The meaning of Nabapatrika, the nine plants that represent nine forms of Ma Durga, and the dawn bath on Maha Saptami.