year, the puja would be performed in the house of Ajay Laha, at
Kailash Bose Street.
About 355 years ago, Banamali Laha of this family initiated Durga puja
at Borshul of Bardhaman district. Then, about 230 years ago, Madhu
mangal Laha of this family used to performed Durga puja at Chuchura of
Hooghly district. And Maharaj Durga charan Laha founded Durga puja in
Kolkata, about 165 years ago.
The same structure is being used every year to make clay idol of debi
Durga. But the orientation of idols is not the same as we see. Here
lord Shiva is sitting on the ox named Nandi, and debi Durga is on the
lap of Shiva. And the other places of the idols are same as we can
see.
The speciality of Laha Bari's Durga puja is the "bhog" where various
sweets are presented, such as চুম্বের নাড়ু, নারকেল নাড়ু, তিলের নাড়ু,
মুগের নাড়ু, ছোলার নাড়ু, বুটের নাড়ু made by চাল গুঁড়ো-নারকোল-গুড়,
মুড়ির খোয়া, বেলা পিঠে, পান গজা, জিবে গজা, পাঁরাকি
and লুচি, কচুরি, কুমড়োর ছক্কা, বেগুনি, ফুলুরি, পটল ভাজা, আলু ভাজা।
The episode of immersion is very interesting. Every year, debi Durga
use to go for immersion on a 'dola' made of bamboo. And all the doors
and windows of the house remain closed during departure. After the
immersion, the head of the family comes to house and asked, মা আছেন
ঘরে? (Is there mother in the room?). Reply comes from the inside of
closed door, the wife says, মা আছেন ঘরে (the mother is in the room).
Then the door opens and all the members of the house enter.
--
A. B.
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