Sunday, September 27, 2009

Durga Puja @ Stockholm


Thats a pic taken yesterday at the Stockholm Durga Puja mandap. I would have found it tough to believe the presence of the Goddess in all her splendour in the middle of the Nordics. But such is life.
I will be singing today, right in front of Goddess Durga. I have never been overly religious. But I believe in the almighty. If you would have had the kind of crazy life I have had, you would believe in the almighty as well. Because there is no other way how I can explain the innumerable strange things that have happened in my life. Except that there is someone somewhere who is guiding me, in what so far has been the right direction. And I hope and wish, that the guidance shall always be there, and I shall be on the right path... and it doesnt matter where that path leads me, as long as I do not deter, wander and get lost.
It is so ironic, that after losing touch with Durga Puja for so long, since I moved out of Jamshedpur, I should rediscover it once again in Sweden, of all places. And have "bhog"... and fold my hands, bow my head and "give" pushpanjali... and watch all the women dressed in the brightest colored Sarees and Lehengas, the men trying to appear comfortable in Kurtas... watch kids sing old Bengali songs, and perform Bharatnatyam dance... and then me.. practicing to sing in front of the Goddess, in a language I am so scared of forgetting. All in Sweden. Reconnecting with the 50% of the bong me. Life is strange, and I think I should come to terms that at every step it will have new surprises for me.
I came to Sweden, craving to go back to a country I called my own. And discovered that in some ways, I could discover a part of my patriotism, my culture, my love for my homeland here more than I could discover it when living in my motherland. Would I be singing a bengali song in front of Durga ma, dressed in an embroidered bengali kurta after having an excess of delicious bhog if I was in Bangalore... or Delhi... or Nagpur... or Manipal? I doubt it. So once again. Life is strange :).

19 comments:

  1. it is quite strange...im surprised there re that many durga-pooja-goers in sweden!!

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  2. Merlin, it was a lovely man from India (another one) who told me, many years ago, "All paths to God are valid." when I stood in his shop in Denver, Colorado, talking about a small statue of a deity that he had nearby.

    That is what I'd also been taught growing up in the Episcopal church (I went to a rather liberal version of an Episcopal church), that all religions reach toward the same thing; the divine. That we all have different ways of trying to attain that, but we all are trying to achieve the same thing.

    I don't practice a religion, but I think it's lovely that the Goddess is represented in Sweden, that the practices you remember from your own country are present also in Sweden.

    I think that really underlines that man's long ago point, all paths to God are valid. All starting points in terms of location are too.

    I think it's particularly fitting, given the subject matter, that there is a sense of comfort in that. In Sweden, or Denver, Dehli or Mumbai, Perth or Sao Paolo you could find the presence of the Goddess, just as I could likely find stained glass windows, depicting St. Andrew.

    That no matter where you go, all paths to God remain. It's really neat to have the actual temple, church, synagogue ...but I like the thought of the metaphoric implication of all paths being valid.

    So your post made me nod, and say aloud, "That makes perfect sense, doesn't it?" The paths going everywhere we go, and remaining valid.

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  3. that is such a wonderful pic Merlin...I am glad you got to be a part of the puja when you believe in god so much...

    btw, a very close friend of mine is from jamshedpur and she is a bangali too..:)

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  4. all the best for your song!!
    hope to read a full blog about the experience..

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  5. Life sure s strange. I am glad that you enjoyed the Durga Puja celebrations in Sweden! :)

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  6. Simply amazing post. Being a bengali, could picture the enthusiasm for the puja celebrations too.
    Hope your song went well. No matter where we are, a tiny piece of us always remain with our homeland.

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  7. hey at first glance i thought it was a pic of somewhr around India.
    Hope your song went off well dear..
    Goodday!!

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  8. Hey Merlin,
    Its a nice write-up. I was just searching for the venue of Durga Puja celebration this year in Stockholm and I got this page as a hit. I am in Stockholm now and dont want to miss Durga Puja this year. So could you please let me know the venue ?!?!

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  9. do you know when is this puja this time in stockholm

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  10. where in Stockholm? I want to be there too!

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  11. Wow..the pic is awesome..nice to know that there is a Durga Puja in Stockholm as well!! I stay in Vaxjo n really missing Pujo this yr..but I have no idea about the Pujo in Stockholm or other places.. :(

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  12. Hey..awesome pic..Feels nice to see that there is a Durga Pujo in Stockholm..unbelievable..I stay in Vaxjo n am really missing Pujo this yr..But unfortunately do not know anyone in Stockholm n will b stuck here :(

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  13. want to know the place where this year durga puja happening at stockholm. want to go as new to this place and missing home

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  14. pls mail me the place bosetoo@gmail.com

    now on project wrk so donot want to miss durga puja

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  15. Hello! I am in Stockholm on a business trip this Pujo. Will be grateful if you can publish the address so that I can come over after work.

    Regards,
    Teertha

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  16. So many people asking about the Puja? All from protected or blank profiles! Strange. I am sorry but the Puja is organized by a private committee and I am not sure they will be comfortable with me advertising it on this blog. Also, they issue personal invite letters to the people whom they want to be present. Also, this blog is not for the purpose of advertising about events, really sorry but I cannot give out the information you ask for. But hope to see you at the Puja if you do find the address ;)

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  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g2AmeljxNY

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