Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Jamai Sasthi is a traditional custom of Bengal. This ritual is from the 'parban' of Debi Sasthi. It is a tradition since the time of Veda.         On the day of first Sasthi tithi of Jaisthya month, it is observed in the first hour of morning before a painted picture of Debi Sasthi or before a 'ghot' as idol of debi.           Sasthi Debi looks like a mother of our everyday life but with all grace of a goddess. The cat is her 'bahan'. The welfare and wishes of well-being of our children is the main blessings of debi Sasthi. Every member of the family wear new clothes kept in 'malsa' during puja. Fruits, paan, supari, dhaan, durba, handmade fan of palm leaves are the requirements during puja.           Once upon a time, someone housewife stealthily used to eat fish and blamed cat. As the cat is 'bahan' of debi Sasthi, she became angry and thus the child of that housewife was missing. The housewife realised her...

        Today is 'Ghetu Sankranti', the fields of Bengal are covered with Ghetu flowers, the kids of rural areas are visiting households with lantern and garlands of Ghetu flowers by singing 'Ghetu Gaan' (songs in praise of Ghetu). It is the ritual and custom of traditional rural Bengal. On tomorrow morning they'll visit households to sing 'Basi' (old) Ghetu song ("Ghetu Bhai, Ghetu Bhai...).

Gajon of Bengal is a traditional dance with songs in praise of Lord Shiva, during Chaitra - last month of Bangla calendar. Although this profession is very rare to find at present, some rural folks still love to perform this ancient art publicly. Here in this picture, a similar group performing Gajon songs at a place near Kolkata.-- A. B.