Durga Puja - 2014
- Thread starter aroy
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2. The Pandals. The Durga Puja celebration is an effort by the locality, every one contributes. There is a Big tent - Pandal, with an area for the Idols, where Puja is done. Then there is usually a stage for performance of cultural programs, lastly there are food stall.
Here are a few Pandals that I could snap in the morning. All of them are within a kilometer's radius of our house
Panorama stitch of Durg Utsav Pandal
Panorama stitch of Mela Ground Pandal
Shiv Mandir Pandal
B Block Pandal
Pocket 52 Pandal
Here are a few Pandals that I could snap in the morning. All of them are within a kilometer's radius of our house
Panorama stitch of Durg Utsav Pandal
Panorama stitch of Mela Ground Pandal
Shiv Mandir Pandal
B Block Pandal
Pocket 52 Pandal
3. Idols in place.
Today is the 5th day. Traditionally the Durga Puja starts on the 6th Day, and the idols are brought on that day. Till the idols are consecrated they are hidden behind a curtain. I was able to reach before they had finished installing, or where they had, take a peep behind the curtain. So here is a glimpse of the final destination of the idols we have seen being made over the last month.
From tomorrow, where ever possible the shots will be with Puja in progress - crowds and all.
Installation in progress
Today is the 5th day. Traditionally the Durga Puja starts on the 6th Day, and the idols are brought on that day. Till the idols are consecrated they are hidden behind a curtain. I was able to reach before they had finished installing, or where they had, take a peep behind the curtain. So here is a glimpse of the final destination of the idols we have seen being made over the last month.
From tomorrow, where ever possible the shots will be with Puja in progress - crowds and all.
Installation in progress
No. All are hand held. In general my hands shake, but once in a while when I steady my hands against the body, low speed shots come out perfectly.
Yesterday evening.
B-126 Chittaranjan Park (private puja)
B-385 Chittaranjan Park (private puja)
Dhaak, the traditional drum played during Puja. The Dhaaki will be playing the drum and dancing at the same time. I shot an 8 minute video, which I will upload once I process it.
Dhaaki
Ganesha Puja, carried out before the main puja on the Sixth Day
B Block Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
Front view of the Mandap at B Block, Chittaranjan Park
Front view of the Mandap at B Block, Chittaranjan Park
The idols
First time I have seen a walking advertisement, that too with illuminated signage
Pocket 40 Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
The idol
Pandal
News Van with Satellite upload dish - live broadcasting
Market #1 Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
The traders have contributed towards this temple. Initially it was just a small hut, now they have built a permanent structure with marble and granite
View
Ganesh
Kali
B-126 Chittaranjan Park (private puja)
B-385 Chittaranjan Park (private puja)
Dhaak, the traditional drum played during Puja. The Dhaaki will be playing the drum and dancing at the same time. I shot an 8 minute video, which I will upload once I process it.
Dhaaki
Ganesha Puja, carried out before the main puja on the Sixth Day
B Block Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
Front view of the Mandap at B Block, Chittaranjan Park
Front view of the Mandap at B Block, Chittaranjan Park
The idols
First time I have seen a walking advertisement, that too with illuminated signage
Pocket 40 Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
The idol
Pandal
News Van with Satellite upload dish - live broadcasting
Market #1 Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
The traders have contributed towards this temple. Initially it was just a small hut, now they have built a permanent structure with marble and granite
View
Ganesh
Kali
Saptami - the seventh day of Navaratri.
Morning shots
Shiv Mandir Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
1. The Mandir
The idol
Prasad. Fruits given after you finish the Anjali (Morning Puja)
Line for Prasad
Dhaakis
Close up of the Dhaak. The Dhaakis (the traditional drum players) come from Bengal every year.
With the Puja comes food and entertainment. This is a panorama of the various stall put up at Shiv Mandir Puja venue.
Stall selling "Mocha Chops" and "Ghugni". The scrip on left is Hindi, and on right Bengali.
Mocha is the flower of the Banana tree, as the banana has only one crop, every part is utilised. The workers are shredding the banana flower, discarding the bitter parts. Then they will slice it fine, mix it with boiled potato and fry the balls.
Ghugni is a snack made from boiled Chick Peas with a bit of goat mince added.
Morning shots
Shiv Mandir Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
1. The Mandir
The idol
Prasad. Fruits given after you finish the Anjali (Morning Puja)
Line for Prasad
Dhaakis
Close up of the Dhaak. The Dhaakis (the traditional drum players) come from Bengal every year.
With the Puja comes food and entertainment. This is a panorama of the various stall put up at Shiv Mandir Puja venue.
Stall selling "Mocha Chops" and "Ghugni". The scrip on left is Hindi, and on right Bengali.
Mocha is the flower of the Banana tree, as the banana has only one crop, every part is utilised. The workers are shredding the banana flower, discarding the bitter parts. Then they will slice it fine, mix it with boiled potato and fry the balls.
Ghugni is a snack made from boiled Chick Peas with a bit of goat mince added.
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Saptami - the seventh day of Navaratri.
Morning shots
Shiv Mandir Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
2. The Bhog - the food cooked by the temple and distributed to one an all. Between 50,000 to 125,000 people come for Bhog every day at Shivmandir during the three days.
Panorama of the cooking area
Ladles
Getting every thing ready for assembly line cooking
Khichuri (Rice and Dal cooked together) is the main course. Each one of the cooking vessels seen here holds more than 200 liters.
Payesh - the sweet, made of rice boiled in milk with added dry fruits
Vegetable - Potato and Cauliflower with a few more greens added
Fire pit. Traditional cooking on large scale uses large dugouts with wood as fuel
Water boiling for Khichuri
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Morning shots
Shiv Mandir Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
2. The Bhog - the food cooked by the temple and distributed to one an all. Between 50,000 to 125,000 people come for Bhog every day at Shivmandir during the three days.
Panorama of the cooking area
Ladles
Getting every thing ready for assembly line cooking
Khichuri (Rice and Dal cooked together) is the main course. Each one of the cooking vessels seen here holds more than 200 liters.
Payesh - the sweet, made of rice boiled in milk with added dry fruits
Vegetable - Potato and Cauliflower with a few more greens added
Fire pit. Traditional cooking on large scale uses large dugouts with wood as fuel
Water boiling for Khichuri
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Edge on view of the serving area. The food will come from the left and the people will queue at the right. With such a lot of people coming, the system has been stream lined to the dot.
Saptami - the seventh day of Navaratri.
Morning shots
K Block Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
Pandit at Puja
Preparation for Bhog. The cooking starts early as a large number of people (at least 25,000) will eat here.
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Water set to boil for Khichuri
Cooks at work
Cooks at work - preparing breakfast for the volunteers, who work round the clock
Frying Puri for breakfast
Frying Puri for breakfast
Morning shots
K Block Chittaranjan Park (Public Puja)
Pandit at Puja
Preparation for Bhog. The cooking starts early as a large number of people (at least 25,000) will eat here.
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Water set to boil for Khichuri
Cooks at work
Cooks at work - preparing breakfast for the volunteers, who work round the clock
Frying Puri for breakfast
Frying Puri for breakfast
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Saptami evening.
Yesterday evening we went to Kashmir Gate Puja. This is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) Durga Puja celebration. It is about 20 km from our house. Due to the festival it took us 2 hours, instead of usual 45 min to reach, such was the traffic.
Entry. The puja is held in the Boy's School
The crowd
The idols
and now FOOD
The menu
Pakora
Mutton Shammi Kabab
Roti
Korma and Roti
Biryani
The food was one of the best you can have in Delhi. The cooks are from traditional areas of Old Delhi (where all the traditional, century old cooks and caterers operate)
Yesterday evening we went to Kashmir Gate Puja. This is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) Durga Puja celebration. It is about 20 km from our house. Due to the festival it took us 2 hours, instead of usual 45 min to reach, such was the traffic.
Entry. The puja is held in the Boy's School
The crowd
The idols
and now FOOD
The menu
Pakora
Mutton Shammi Kabab
Roti
Korma and Roti
Biryani
The food was one of the best you can have in Delhi. The cooks are from traditional areas of Old Delhi (where all the traditional, century old cooks and caterers operate)
Ashtami - the eighth day of Navaratri
Morning at Shiv Mandir. Ashtami morning Anjali is a must for all Bengali, and I got dragged by my wife for it.
1. The puja. After the puja, the devotees are given - Prasad, a mix of fruit and sweets. Now a days a lot of packaged products are finding their way. The prasad is usually sponsored by some one.
The idol
Flowers for Puja. As the crowd is large, flowers are first distributed in baskets by volunteers. At the end of puja, they collect the flowers again in baskets and then offer them at idols feet. In small pujas, you throw the flowers at the feet, but in such a large crowd your throw falls short, hence collection.
Distributing flowers for the puja
The croud
Dhaakis
Prasad Distribution
Prasad Distribution
Morning at Shiv Mandir. Ashtami morning Anjali is a must for all Bengali, and I got dragged by my wife for it.
1. The puja. After the puja, the devotees are given - Prasad, a mix of fruit and sweets. Now a days a lot of packaged products are finding their way. The prasad is usually sponsored by some one.
The idol
Flowers for Puja. As the crowd is large, flowers are first distributed in baskets by volunteers. At the end of puja, they collect the flowers again in baskets and then offer them at idols feet. In small pujas, you throw the flowers at the feet, but in such a large crowd your throw falls short, hence collection.
Distributing flowers for the puja
The croud
Dhaakis
Prasad Distribution
Prasad Distribution
Ashtami - the eighth day of Navaratri
Morning at Shiv Mandir. Preparations for today's Bhog.
The fire wood stack
Line of Khichuri pans, already cooked
Preparation of vegetables for Labra (mixed vegetable dish)
Khichuri
Chaatni - sweet and sour, made from tomato, dates and spices
Payesh (milk based sweet)
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Pails for distribution, and plastic plates stacked up
Smaller pan of the two sizes
The smaller size is 62 ices diameter ad the larger one 72 inches. Now imagine at least twenty of these for khichuri alone.
The pots are heavy, and with food extra heavy. Just look at the handles they are made on inch thick bars.
Morning at Shiv Mandir. Preparations for today's Bhog.
The fire wood stack
Line of Khichuri pans, already cooked
Preparation of vegetables for Labra (mixed vegetable dish)
Khichuri
Chaatni - sweet and sour, made from tomato, dates and spices
Payesh (milk based sweet)
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Cooks at work
Pails for distribution, and plastic plates stacked up
Smaller pan of the two sizes
The smaller size is 62 ices diameter ad the larger one 72 inches. Now imagine at least twenty of these for khichuri alone.
The pots are heavy, and with food extra heavy. Just look at the handles they are made on inch thick bars.
