The year was 1290 . A crowd had gathered around a clearing, where broken down pillars marked the presence of an ancient temple, now long gone. A young boy, just 14 years old, leaned against one of those pillars, deep in thought. Then, he began speaking, and the crowd fell silent, listening to his every word. He spoke without any notes, translating the Bhagavat Gita, from Sanskrit, which only the pundits knew, to the language everyone in the village knew and spoke – a variety of Prakrit which developed into the Marathi language. Even as he spoke, one of the men in the audience realized how momentous this event was, and how important this composition would be. He began writing down the words the young boy spoke, and this composition was named by its author and composer, the Bhavartha Deepika – the enlightening meaning (of the Bhagavat Gita). Now, the ancient, holy text, was no longer restricted to the pundits, but accessible to all, understood easily by them, composed as it was, in their...
Eight days have gone by, and Navaratri is almost over. It's unbelievable how fast time flies, especially during festivals like this. The last few days have been so busy that I haven't been able to write, but I have more to write before I call an end to my Navaratri posts. Today, let me give you a glimpse of our Chembur Durga Puja.....
This is how we are greeted at the entrance, the dancing lights stopping us on the road, for a second glance!
This is no replica, but a temple made from the imagination of the artists.....
Inside, everything is eco-friendly... All the items used are bio-degradeable.... Take a look at what lovely decorations have been made with coir, reeds, shola wood, and similar items....
On the ceiling is a piece de resistance - a chandelier, made of Shola wood, lighting up the decorations...
And here is what we are here for..... the tableau of deities....
As I stand before them, hands folded in prayer, Samhith's attention is drawn elsewhere - to the stalls outside, selling food. Of course, what he really wants is Rasgolla! We had planned to be here early, in time for the Bhog, but, we are too late. We have to settle for the stalls just beginning their sales, and he pulls me out of the pandal, intent on satisfying his stomach, rather than my spiritual satisfaction, but I give in, for this is what brings him here with me, year after year, for now!
Beautiful decorations. Oh that means there is a large Bengali population in Chembur.
ReplyDeleteYes, PNS. there is a sizeable Bengali population in and around Chembur. And they arrange for some really beautiful decorations each year!
DeleteVery creative! And sensitive to create an ecofriendly pandal. Where is this? Chedda Nagar?
ReplyDeleteNo, Bindhu, this is near the Chembur Naka...on the ground near the municipal school
DeleteVery nice being in Chembur never visited this place
ReplyDeleteThank you Anuradha Ji for creating such beautiful post on this magnificent puja mandap. I'd like to add one thing which you may not know that the LED lighting is based on a beautiful childhood Bengali poem "Palkir Gaan".
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