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1606 - first recorded puja in West Bengal.
Celebrated by Bhabananda, the ancestor of Maharaja Krishnachandra
of Nadia
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1610- the oldest Puja in the city of Calcutta
was supposed to be arranged by the family of Sabarana Chaudhury
of Barisha.
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1761 - first Barowari puja in Guptipara,
Hoogli.
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1829 - Lord Bentinck was present in a Durga
Puja in the house of Gopimohan Dev in north Calcutta. Inviting
British rulers in Durga Puja started from the time of Raja
Nabakrishna Dev.
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"Barowari" puja started in the city
from 1860. In 1924 the name changed to "sarbojonin".
Even today some organizers use the term "barowari".
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1939 - Simla Bayam Samiti Puja. Subhaschandra
Bose unveiled a 21-foot Durga.
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In the late 60's Durga images were flown overseas
and Puja was celebrated.
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From the 80's , corporate sponsors started
offering awards for best decoration, best images, best presentations
etc. Currently around a dozen of them have different kinds
of awards sponsored.
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Bakul Bagan Durgotsab, South Calcutta ( Bhawanipur/Hazra
area) : Leading artists like Nirad Majumdar, Rathin Maitra,
Paritosh Sen, Shanu Lahiri, Meera Mukherjee etc. have taken
turn to design the images of this puja.
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Mythological facts:
- Which God gave what weapon to Devi Durga to destroy
Asura
- Vishnu - chakra (discus)
- Siva - trishul (trident)
- Varun - shankha (conchshell)
- Agni - flaming dart
- Vayu - dhanuk (bow)
- Surya - tunir ebong teer (quiver and arrow)
- Yama - iron rod
- Indra - bajro (thunderbolt)
- Himalayas - Lion
- Carrier
- Durga - Lion
- Kartick - Peacock
- Ganesh - Mouse
- Swaraswati -Duck
- Lakshmi - Owl
- Mahisasur - Buffalo
