The illustrious Badan Chandra Roy family’s Durga puja in Kolkata dates back to 1858, a year after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Badan Chandra Roy, who established this Durga puja, had instructed in his will that this puja should not be discontinued at least before a 100 years by his family. However, this heritage Durga Puja continues even after 100 years and steps into its 168th year this year.
Veteran family member Dilip Kumar Roy said, “We are celebrating this puja in the 168th year. However, Durga Puja in this house started much earlier. This can be known from the will of Badan Babu’s father Mathurmohan Roy in 1846. Although there was no direct mention of Durga Puja, there was a mention of the Sharadiya Maha Puja. At that time, Rs 1000 taka was allocated for the puja. In 2007, we celebrated 150 years of our puja. At that time, we enquired with the Reserve Bank about the value of Rs 1000 in 1858, which they said was more than Rs 1 crores.”
Durga puja had to be shifted due to the Great Calcutta Killing of 1946
However, Durga puja could not be organised at Badan Chandra Roy bari (also known as ‘Colootola Roy bari) in 1946 due to communal riots in Kolkata, also known as the Great Calcutta Killing. For that year, the puja was shifted to Ananta Roy’s house in Jorasako near Rabindranath Tagore’s home Jorasanko Thakurbari in Kolkata. After independence, this puja returned to its original location in College Street.
History of Badan Chandra Roy Bari
This Colootola residence of the Roy family was built at the same time as the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, which is 170 years old, inaugurated in 1855. It is known that the house once had 5 parts. Outer hall, inner hall, stables, parlor and garden house. The house was built on an area of more than a bigha. Horse-drawn carriages entered from the gate next to the stables. Mackintosh Barn built this house in 1858. By 1948-49, the entire house had about 100 members. Apart from this house, the Roy family had several other properties in Kolkata and suburbs.
10 feet high Durga idol wears pure gold ornaments
A major attraction of this Durga puja is the idol, which is about 10 feet high. All the ornaments of the idol are made of gold and the weapons are made of silver. Every year, the idol is constructed in the ancestral hall of the Roy family residence.
No animal sacrifice, 108 coconuts offered on Sandhi Puja
Durga puja at Badan Chandra Roy Bar is performed as per Vaishnavism and hence no animal is scarified here. Only fruits are sacrificed as per the family’s Durga Puja traditions. On Sandhi Puja between Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami, 108 coconuts, about 187 kg sugar and almost 375 kg rice is offered as ‘Bhog’ to the Goddess.
Wax gourds and sugarcane are sacrificed during Sandhi Puja as per the tradition. Fish is cooked on the day of Navami.
A document from 1938 reveals that during that time, meals were arranged for 500 to 1000 people in this house, morning and afternoon, for the five days of Durga Puja. Following that tradition, the Roy family still organises meals for many common people along with their relatives.
Traditionally Durga idol was carried on shoulders for Visarjan
Another special attraction of this puja is the immersion phase. Traditionally, the idol was carried on the shoulders to the pond for immersion. In the present day, Goddess Durga is carried in a palanquin for immersion. Earlier, after Durga puja, two shots were fired with a two-barrelled gun. Now that practice is no more.
Social welfare initiatives during Durga Puja
The Badan Chandra Roy Family Durga Puja is not just a celebration; it is a platform for social initiatives and community involvement. The organisers undertake various projects to give back to society and promote social welfare. Free healthcare camps and medical check-ups are organised during the festival, providing essential services to the underprivileged. Renowned doctors and healthcare professionals volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that everyone has access to basic healthcare.
Additionally, educational workshops and literacy programmes are conducted for children from marginalised communities, empowering them with knowledge and skills.