things never change with the time. The 287 years old Durga puja of village Surul in Birbhum district of West Bengal is one of that kind, which is timeless. This traditional Durga puja is of the royal family or zamindar of village Surul.
The Thakurdalan, Naat Mandir, schandelier made of Belgian glasses remind one the past glory of this family. Time lost the grandeur but the sincerity still exist here in this puja.
All the members live in India
and abroad comes at Surul to attend the puja. The courtyard of the house becomes a symbol of fair by temporary stalls, shops and the villagers.
300 years ago, one husband and wife with no issues came to the village Surul from a small village of East Barddhaman. Later, they have a son named Krishnapada Sarkar who started to perform autumnly Durga puja after gaining huge profit in business initiated at village Surul of Birbhum.
On the first day of Durga puja, they use to bath the 'Naba Patrika' (কলা বৌ) from their family pond or pool with procession and playing trumpet, dhak, dhol etc. carrying the 'Naba Patrika' in 'palanquin' (palki/পালকি). The food offerings to goddess Durga is mainly sweets made inside the house by special cook. It includes luchi (লুচি) made of flour, various sweets, chhana (cakes), suji and other foods.
This zamindar family has about 200 sub-families and the members about 1000 persons live in India and abroad, comes during the days of puja. On Dashami, the deity of goddess Durga use to get immersed in the river. And after the immersion, they gather at Naat mandir and play shankh (শাঁখ) to call shankha chil (the royal kite) which is very auspicious to the family on the final day (Vijaya Dashami) of Durga puja, they believe.
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