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A Very Happy DURGA ASHTAMI to all at IRI. May Goddess DURGA shower her bountiful blessings on all of you in abundant measure.
As I had mentioned earlier, it was with a HEAVY HEART that I left Kolkata on the morning of MAHA SHASHTI, which marks the commencement of the 5 -day long DURGA PUJA festivities, to board the HWH-YPR Duronto for Blore on 20th Oct, for a month-long vacation.
My wife was INSISTENT that we should not leave Kolkata without a DARSHAN of MAA DURGA. And so on the evening of Friday,...
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the 19th Oct, we took a 10 minute walk from our residence at South Kolkata to visit the NAKTALA UDAYAN SANGHA DURGA PUJA, a high-profile one, inaugurated by the Hon'ble CM of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee.
The PUJA PANDAL was in the shape of a BUTTERFLY and was a spectacle to behold. The butterfly, called PRAJAPATI in Bengali, is considered a GOOD OMEN and is regarded as a SIGN of an IMMINENT WEDDING in the family.
For my friends in IRI who were not LUCKY ENOUGH LIKE ME to witness this MARVEL, I am posting a few pictures of this PUJA for your benefit.
Please come back with your valued comments.