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Namaste!
Well, it's about time I left that Current Affairs forum and posted about something a little more uplifting!
I've hardly done any 'Hindu stuff' all summer so was delighted when the Goddess led me to a wonderful Bengali Durga puja yesterday. The Goddess Durga and other deities (her sons Ganesh and Murugan) and two other Goddesses which the British Museum referred to as her daughters (? errmmm?) Anyway, the idols (effigies, Gods, whatever you like to call them) were constructed in the British Museum where I by chance discovered them a couple of weeks ago.
then on Saturday an old friend emailed me to tell me that they were going to be immersed in the River Thames at Putney yesterday (Monday) to mark the end of Navratri (Nine nights of the Goddess) when Durga Ma's victory over the Buffalo demon Mahishasura is celebrated.
I wasn't sure I would have the energy to go but should have known that she would pull me there anyway. And it was wonderful. Here's a link to a BBC site about the preparations: [link= http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/index.shtml ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/index.shtml[/link]
It was truly a wonderful puja and amazingly at the exact moment when the Goddess was immersed in the river a huge rainbow appeared over Putney Bridge. Very auspicious!
With love
Sunanda xxx
Edited to delete the link to my photobucket photos because I've realised that the link takes you into my account giving anyone the option of cavorting through my whole collection of photoalbums. Does anyone know how I can invite you all to see these photos without giving you access to everything and without having to upload them all here - and there are too many to do that.
RE: Durga puja at Putney
Hey, the BBC put some of my photos on its website!
RE: Durga puja at Putney
Those are great.
Fab about the Rainbow too, I bet everyone was very pleased.
Lim
RE: Durga puja at Putney
Hi Sunanda,
You are VERY ANNOYING! Do you know that?
Of course,I know that you posted this before I chanced on this Forum. But you are still annoying.
How come you get to all the good stuff? Why do I not get a chance? Well as it happens, you don't have to tell me, I know!
I was just plain lucky in being born where I was. But you weren't! All the more credit to you then that you have developed into what you are. And Ma Kali does know how to show her appreciation. Even a child in India could tell you that.
Anyway, enough nonsense! You will forgive me, won't you?
You have "hardly done any 'Hindu stuff' all summer" ? Pardon me, you have breathed, haven't you? You have done no harm, have you? Or unbeknown to us, have you taken the opportunity to kill or maim someone? If so I feel for you, because Ma Kali certainly won't. But if not, what are you taliking about? I just do not understand.
All you have to do is "Do no Harm". If you have done that, you have done enough! The rest is just commentary.
Now then, about that Durga Puja in putney and whatever you wrote! As it happens, I am VERY FAMILIAR with Durga Puja and what it means. I have only known about it for the last sixty years, as it happens. And for the last thirty years in Merseyside, where I have taken part actively in the LARGEST Durga Puja in England, in terms of numbers attending.
Allow me to clarify only a few of the p[oints you raised:
1. There is NO DIFFERENCE between Ma Durga and Ma Kali.
2. Bengalis particularly (that's me, BTW) have extreme affection for Ma Durga. So they attach all these stories to her. A Mother, her two sons, Kartikeya and Ganesh and two daughters, Laxmi and Saraswati. Now this IS going to shock you!
We are so close to ma Durga and her family that we even have a little citation for the children. It goes like this:
Laxmi Thakur hAAngla,
ekbAr Ase mAyer sange,
ekbAr Ase eklA.
The Goddess Laxmi is greedy,
Once she comes with her Mother,
Again she comes on her own!
Of course, the greed is simply for human adulation, maybe for a bit of the goodies, foodstuff, prasad and all that.
Now if you think THAT is disrespectful, try to deal with this. My OWN name is Laxmi, given to me by my very very dear Grandmother(Long since departed, of course).
The same for Ma Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesh. Please do not repeat it in Tamil Nadu. They WILL be offended, and rightly so, I might add.
After all, they do NOT have the close relationship with Ma Durga and Ma Kali that we Bengalis have.
What else? The immersion ceremony. That will be another post, I am afraid, as I have run out of time. Same for your photos.
Bless you, Sunanda, you are a treasure.
Prashna.
RE: Durga puja at Putney
There is a TV documentary about this festival on tomorrow night. Possibly Channel 4 (maybe 5) around 7pm. (I don't have the details with me.)
With love
Sunanda xxx
RE: Durga puja at Putney
ORIGINAL: sunanda
Hey, the BBC put some of my photos on its website!
[link= http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/series10/durga_public/index.shtml ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/series10/durga_public/index.shtml[/link]
Hi Sunanda,
Lovely photos and thanks for the ‘heads-up’ on the prog tomorrow night too.
Blimey, you’re right media star ain’t ya!
TV documentaries with Celebs… Photos published on the Auntie Beeb’s website… what’re y’like?:D
RE: Durga puja at Putney
Thank you sunanda, for the info.
Will try to watch.
A bit of a busman's holiday for me, but interestin nonetheless.
Regards. 
Prashna
RE: Durga puja at Putney
Hi all,
Slight correction, It's on Channel 5, 7:15 - 8:00 pm (1915 - 2000 hours) tonight.
Should be good. Here is what Channel 5 says about it:
Durga (Drama)
Time - 19:15 - 20:00 (45 minutes long)
When - Thursday 14th December on five
The Goddess Comes To London.
Documentary charting London's celebration of the biggest festival of Bengali Hindus. In the British Museum, skilled craftsmen from Bengal craft a huge depiction of the goddess Durga. Amid a spectacle of chanting, sacred dance and kaleidoscopic costume, the creation - made from straw, clay and paint - is ritually immersed in the Thames by Putney Bridge.
(Stereo, Followed by five news update, Subtitles)
So It's going to be a unique show. A unique opportunity to see the entire event,
-Making of the pratima
-Puja, over 4 days
-Immersion.
All from the comfort of your armchair.
Not to be missed.
Regards.
Prashna
RE: Durga puja at Putney
Just a brief note!
Just finished watching the programme.
It's not often that words fail me. This is such a time!
It was all that I could havehoped and wished for! And more, much, much more!
Thank you Sunanda, Thank you British Museum, Thank you Camden,
And of course, thank you Thames River Authority.
Regards.
Prashna
RE: Durga puja at Putney
the following picture was my favorite:
[link= http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/series10/durga_public/04.shtml ]http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/series10/durga_public/04.shtml[/link]
the major reason i like that so much is because of the caption:
"The rainbow appeared at the exact moment the Durga was put in the river. Photographed by Sunanda Maldonado."
.........gave me goosebumps!!!