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Durga Puja in Glasgow Way
«on:
10/17/02 at 08:27:54 » |
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Glasgow, 14/10/02:Ma Mago, Suni Kahar Pododhwanai,
Mago Seki Tumi ele, Seki Tumi?
Yes, believe it or not Ma is in Scotland too but modified in Glasgow way. In India Coca-Cola might be sponsoring some puja pandals or the protima all together but at Glasgow Clarkson Hall Coca-Cola and Wonder Chips were served as an official refreshment. Well, it would be wrong to say that formal prasad and Mayer bhog were not arranged, but the correspondent would have been late to report in case he had waited until midnight. The Glasgow Durga Puja Committee (GDPC) (A concern of Bangiya Sanskritik Parishad, Estd 1971) is proudly going to complete its 22nd year of sarbojonin Durga Puja in an alien land with the second plaster of paris idol situated at Glasgow.
“The established (prothistito) goddess reached Britain in 1981 and being worshipped since then” explained Ashis Mallik, Secretary, GDPC. The congregation mostly consisted of probasi bangalis who are hired by Her Majesty as ‘skilful’ workers to this country. Mr. Mallik exemplifies one of such non-residents. But with the excuse that the puja was held overseas there were no comprises made like ‘digital’ drumbits for aroti as happens in some parts of our country till date. There stood a very human dhakia (of course in casuals) who was helping the purohit mosay to perform his puja in most elegant and homely way.
This year as many as eight Pujas has been organised all across UK and Europe but the main attraction of this one in Scotland is that it entered its “22nd year of celebration that too with full encouragement from the Crown” added Mr. Mallik. While in an interview with Times, Alex Mosson, Lord Provost confirmed, “I am delighted that your festival is being once more held in Glasgow, which is truly a multi-cultural city.” “My Council supports wholeheartedly your celebration..”, he added.
When the correspondent tried to enter the Namdev Cultural Center (once recognised as Clarkson Church) mesmerised by the sound of dhaks he could not believe his ears the bangla words asking for chada. When offered with two pound coins one of the dissapointed face asked, “khali dui pound?” Explaining the financial condition he made his way through but later asking apology Biswanath Sinha, Convenor, GDPC, explained that “this chada raised goes for the benefit of Bangla School which is opened at Glasgow for the upliftment of bengali children who do not even know their mother tongue and also encourages the people who are interested to learn the language of Rabindra Nath and Amartya Sen.” Dr. Malcolm Green, Policy and Resources Committee Labour Group Business Manager, on this recognised the activity of Bangiya Sanskritik Parishad as a real hard-work which opens “oppurtunity of our other communities to join with the Bengali community..”
This is not the end. This year Jayashri Gupta (A distinguised classical singer from India) is coming down to add colours to the Mahadashami. “So what we are far away from home, but we have made this our little Kolkata giving a better meaning to our lives,” Mr. Mallik added finally.
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