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| With my Bandra Notun Palli friends and my mother (in the blue sari) Sam (Samudra) in the orange solid Punjabi (kurta) is the one who first introduced me to the happy Bandra Pujo band |
Note: I have borrowed the phrase ‘food love song’ from Simon Majumdar
Why the Bandra Notun Palli Durga Puja feels like home
I stepped into the Bandra Notun Palli Durga
Puja this afternoon and was greeted by smiling faces.
Puja this afternoon and was greeted by smiling faces.
“Where were you last year?” I was asked.
“Here only,” I replied
“No you were not there.”
Then I remembered that we were in Italy
last year during the pujos and not in Mumbai. I had forgotten this but the folks at the Bandra
Pujo remembered.
last year during the pujos and not in Mumbai. I had forgotten this but the folks at the Bandra
Pujo remembered.
Any wonder that the Bandra Pujo feels like
home for me?
home for me?
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| Amitda at the Bandra Pujo to me: “I use the recipes from your blog and videos to learn how to cook nice dishes.” |
Bandra is the suburb of Mumbai which has
been my home for more than a decade and a half ever since I moved into the city.
been my home for more than a decade and a half ever since I moved into the city.
Durga Pujo, of course, is the most
important festival for us Bengalis.
important festival for us Bengalis.
I’ve been visiting the Bandra Notun Palli Durga Pujo ever
since I moved into Mumbai. It always felt like home.
since I moved into Mumbai. It always felt like home.
A few years back, thanks
to a blog post on the pujo, I got to know the organisers of the puja, when they read the post and reached out to me. I came the pujo and met them and got to know that they are Mumbai based
Bengalis, who have grown up with the pujo.
to a blog post on the pujo, I got to know the organisers of the puja, when they read the post and reached out to me. I came the pujo and met them and got to know that they are Mumbai based
Bengalis, who have grown up with the pujo.
The Bandra Pujo folks welcomed me as one of their own just as everyone else in Bandra had too.
It is a very ‘ghoroa’ or homely puja as the organisers and their families are pretty hands on in arranging the puja.
In the Uk in the 1970s, my parents were part of a such a group too.
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| Bandra Durga Pujo, 2016 |
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| Bandra Pujo by day |
What is this bhog all about?
This time my mother is visiting us from
Kolkata, and she joined me to have bhog at the Bandra Pujo.
Kolkata, and she joined me to have bhog at the Bandra Pujo.
Around 7,700 people were fed today by the hard working volunteers of the Notun Palli Pujo. The age group of
battalion working with Kaushik Saha, who heads the food committee, ranges from
4 year olds to octogenarians. The crowds were larger than usual as it is Ashtami, the biggest day of the pujas, and a Sunday too.
battalion working with Kaushik Saha, who heads the food committee, ranges from
4 year olds to octogenarians. The crowds were larger than usual as it is Ashtami, the biggest day of the pujas, and a Sunday too.
The food was cooked by Chef Gobindo, as he has for
the last 30 odd years for the Durga Pujo here. And for the Lokhi Pujo, Kali Pujo and Saraswati
Pujo too.
the last 30 odd years for the Durga Pujo here. And for the Lokhi Pujo, Kali Pujo and Saraswati
Pujo too.
The Durga Pujo bhog is a bit like a Langar
in a Sikh Gurudwara. It is served to all who drop in at community pujas such as
the Bandra pujo regardless of caste, community and creed. You can come around 1
pm tomorrow and day after too if you want to try it. In most cases it is served free.
in a Sikh Gurudwara. It is served to all who drop in at community pujas such as
the Bandra pujo regardless of caste, community and creed. You can come around 1
pm tomorrow and day after too if you want to try it. In most cases it is served free.
Ashtami, like I said, is the main day of the Pujo and many Bengalis turn vegetarian for this day. The loyalties of people on this day is split between giving anjali (prayers) and eating bhog.
Guess which of these I try not to miss!
In Bandra, the ashtami bhog is always centred around pulao and
not the traditional khichuri. As apparently it is in pujos in Hyderabad and
Gurgaon, and many other places, according to reader comments that I received when
I put up the pictures up on social media.
not the traditional khichuri. As apparently it is in pujos in Hyderabad and
Gurgaon, and many other places, according to reader comments that I received when
I put up the pictures up on social media.
I am not sure why it is so in Bandra. Folklore goes that one of the earlier organisers had said that they should make something special on ashthami and pulao is of course more regal than the humble khichuri,
The rest of the menu this afternoon was begoon bhaja, alu
fulkopir dalna, chaatnee, payesh and pantua.
fulkopir dalna, chaatnee, payesh and pantua.
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| Bhog at the Bandra Notun Palli Puja |
The food tasted good and felt special. It finally felt like the pujos finally.
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| Mother son bhog bonding My Bandra Pujo friends kindly arranged everything for her to have a comfortable meal |
Food stalls at Pujo Pandals
I had dropped in for a short while at the pujo last evening too with my mother and K. Now, it is apparently my time to take my mom out unlike when I was a child when it was the other way round.
The moment we entered the pujo yesterday, I was
engulfed by the aromas of the streets of Kolkata. Nostalgic whiffs of fish fry,
egg rolls, Moghlai parathas and veg, fish and mutton chops being fried and, a rare sight in Mumbai,
a bag of phuchkas.
engulfed by the aromas of the streets of Kolkata. Nostalgic whiffs of fish fry,
egg rolls, Moghlai parathas and veg, fish and mutton chops being fried and, a rare sight in Mumbai,
a bag of phuchkas.
I didn’t try any of this as I had a cold
and a body ache, and deep fried food didn’t seem to be a good idea.
and a body ache, and deep fried food didn’t seem to be a good idea.
The only other times I was under the weather during the pujos was once in high school and once in college. Hurt more then as pujos literally was the crux of my year then. My life has expanded since then and, this time, thankfully I don’t have an actual fever.
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| The food stalls are open all day Prep going on for the evening |
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| Moghlai Porothas |
So we stepped out and I had the lovely hot chocolate (highly recommended by my mom in law and me) at Starbucks, and, as per K’s suggestion, a heart warming alu cheese raste ka toast sandwich opposite Theobroma.
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| Starbucks Hot Chocolate. The perfect pick me up |
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| The missus knows best |
Serenity at the Ramkrishna Mission pujo
We went to the Ram Krishna Mission pujo too last evening as
mom was on a pandal hopping mood. There were food stalls there as well, though the vibe here was more serene.
mom was on a pandal hopping mood. There were food stalls there as well, though the vibe here was more serene.
The food stalls here seemed to be more ‘home chef’ rather than caterer run. In the middle of young boys playing classical music inside and monks walking
around outside, I heard a gentleman scream with glee outside a stall to his family, “Ekhane aai, daroon jibe goja” (come here
for some lovely sweets).
around outside, I heard a gentleman scream with glee outside a stall to his family, “Ekhane aai, daroon jibe goja” (come here
for some lovely sweets).
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| The very traditional pujo at Ramkrishna Mission, Mumbai My mother went there today to see the Kumari Pujo |
Catch the phuchka action in the video below. I haven’t tasted the phuchkas so can’t comment on the quality though the sight warmed the cockles of my heart
On the social media feeds of people I
have seen pictures of the Goddess, the puja decorations and crowds (if in
Kolkata especially), family and friend bonding, pandal hopping, the purut moshai (priest), dhunochi nach,
the onjoli, new clothes, adda sessions, cultural programmes and food, food and more food.
have seen pictures of the Goddess, the puja decorations and crowds (if in
Kolkata especially), family and friend bonding, pandal hopping, the purut moshai (priest), dhunochi nach,
the onjoli, new clothes, adda sessions, cultural programmes and food, food and more food.
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| Family time at the Bandra Pujo, 2016 |
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| Bumping into a school senior at RK Mission |
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| Bumping into new friends from Mumbai at the Bandra Pujo |
To paraphrase my aunt’s childhood friend, Apala, for many of us the Pujos are about connecting with one’s roots.
Specially
for those of us who don’t live in Bengal.
for those of us who don’t live in Bengal.
Of course, it’s all about segmentation as I remembered
from my market research days and as I later through Buddhism, each individual is unique and should be treasured. So there can’t be a one size fits all answer.
from my market research days and as I later through Buddhism, each individual is unique and should be treasured. So there can’t be a one size fits all answer.
For some the pujos are about family, for some culture.
For some it’s a time to get a break from work or from studies. For others, from
caterers to pujo barshiki novelists of yore, to food bloggers today (ahem), it is an
opportunity to cash in some extra work. Then there is decking up in notun jaamas and little pandals romances too. And there is the religious aspect of course.
For some it’s a time to get a break from work or from studies. For others, from
caterers to pujo barshiki novelists of yore, to food bloggers today (ahem), it is an
opportunity to cash in some extra work. Then there is decking up in notun jaamas and little pandals romances too. And there is the religious aspect of course.
As for me, like always, it is the Durga Pujo food that nourishes the
roots.
roots.
I would love to know what the pujos mean to
you. Please do write in at the comment section on your pujo stories and wish you happy pujos
you. Please do write in at the comment section on your pujo stories and wish you happy pujos
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| Durga Pujo bhog that my brother, sister in law & little niece had in Gurgaon yesterday |
Tips
and additional information:
and additional information:
- The Bandra Pujo happens at Linking Road opposite National College, behind the Patwardhan Park in the lane behind Croma and Theobroma. The bhog is served between 1 to 2 pm and is vegetarian and on the house. Link to a Facebook Live video I did from the Pujo on bhog
- Like all festival food stalls, the food sold at Durga
Puja pandals are usually over-priced and not really gourmet stuff, so don’t sit
down as a food critic and do go in with your eyes open. Have fun -
Lot of the concerts and programmes are put up by
amateurs and again are not meant for critical appreciation. Try to enjoy the spirit in which they are put up and try to encourage them even if it’s not up your street. Some have practised the acts for months. Or skip them and just soak in the vibe and indulge in some adda - Pujo bhog food is usually on the house and is paid for by contributions from the organisers, locals and sponsors. It’s heavy
food with ghee and stuff is carb loaded so don’t pile your plate as you might end up wasting
some of it as I have learnt over the years. - The pujos often have stall selling Bengali food ingredients, saris, ornaments etc.
- A couple of activities I was commissioned to do around
the pujas which you might find useful - Link to a post with 2 easy recipes, and a video, on how to cook alur dom and mishti pulao for a Durga Pujo feast. This was for SBI Life
- Link to a article commissioned by NDTV food of Durga Pujo bhog and what to expect
- Link to a video and post I had done on the India Food Network years back on how to make khichuri
