Festivals
Durga Puja
Associations
Learn Bangla
Beng. Marriage
Art & Craft
Great Indians
Beauty Care
Recipe
Astrology
Beng. Section
Bengal
Calcutta
Beng. Calendar
Wallpapers
Movie
Music
E-Card
Shopping
E-Puja Room 
News
E-mail
Month's Events
Weather 
Chat
Travel
Join Us
Advertise
Website links
Link to us
Guest Corner
Services
WebSite Design

SEAL DURGA PUJA
History of Chorbagan Seal family and its Durga Puja: History stands witness to another famous Durga Puja that was started about 150 years ago by Babu Ram Chand Seal. Initially from Gutiabazar of Hooghly, he shifted to Calcutta in the year 1849 and acquired properties in Chorbagan.

A successful businessman Babu Ram Chand Seal imported clothes from Manchester and exported rice, mercury and vermilion to various countries in South-East Asia. He was a religious man and was a great devotee of his Gurudev(religious master). At the inspiration of his second wife, Khatramani Dassi he first organised Durga Puja at his master's residence at Goswami Lane, Bagbazar in Calcutta. For five consecutive years Durga Puja was performed here. In the year 1856 Ram Chand started Durga Puja at his residence at Chorbagan. Since then his descendants perform Durga Puja.

Main features of Durga Puja of Seal family:
The Seal family Durga Puja is performed traditionally with great devotional fervor. Old rituals following "Brihanandikeshar Puran" are performed. The Seal family follow Vaisnab philosophy. So fruits or animal sacrifices are not offered to the Goddess. The first shape to the beautiful Durga Goddess is give form on the auspicious day of Rathajatra in the month of June/July every year. All forms of articles and goods needed to perform the rituals are bought on Radhastami day in the month of August/September every year. On this day, shops are put up at the premises

of the residence. Vendors sell vermilion, conch-shell bangles, Lac bangles and other traditional cosmetics. 

Bodhon commenses on the day after Mahalaya and continues upto Sasthi. The puja is performed by five pujaris. In addition to the traditional puja on Saptami, Astami, Navami and Vijaya Dasami, Kumari and Sadhoba pujas are performed on the Navami day. On Astami the holy cow is worshipped in addition to a special puja at the Ganges.

Each day of the festival has one member of the family offering flowers made of gold to the Goddess. On Dashami immersion of the Goddess Durga takes place in babughat but before the immersion a symbolic ritual is performed. A mirror image of the devi is glimpsed in a tub full of water that is placed in front of the deity. Years ago the immersion took place in Karunamayi in Tallygunge. After the immersion the purohit (priest) visits all the sariks (nuclear families) of the Seal family to sprinkle holy water.

On the occasion of the Puja, the evenings are filled with performances by the members of the family. Generally dances and short plays are staged for the entertainment of the entire family as well as those who come visiting. Offerings of the Sandhi puja are sent to the family of Gurudev of Ram Chand at Bagbazar. Since the family follow the vaishnav philosophy they abstain from taking non-vegetarian food from Mahalaya to Vijaya Dashami. Dolutasav is another festival which has been zealously performed in the family since 144 years.

 SABORNO DURGA PUJA || SEAL DURGA PUJA || LAHA BARI CHATUBABU LATUBABU || MUKHERJEE DURGA PUJA  
PATHURIYAGHATA DURGA PUJA || MITRA BARI    
SOVA BAZAR RAJ BARI || HATKHOLA DUTTA BARI
BISHU MUKHUJEE BARI || MULLICK BARI
MUKHERJEE PARIVAR (Dum Dum)

Traditional Durga pujas in Bengali households
( inside Calcutta )