Durga Puja 2020: How the festival’s spirit is alive with devotees amid pandemic

As the festive week of Navratri kicks off, devotees are wanting ahead to celebrating Durga Puja with nice enthusiasm. However, the spirit of the auspicious competition has dampened a bit amid the coronavirus pandemic, particularly for individuals staying away from their hometown.

ANI spoke to a number of the people who find themselves used to celebrating the auspicious competition within the conventional method, and as they discuss, they clarify how the coronavirus pandemic has change into a spoilsport of their journey plans, which they might do yearly, and the way the celebrations are going to vary this 12 months amid the coronavirus scare.

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Debaditya Saha, who works in Concentrix stated, “I could have visited my hometown, but it isn’t safe. My parents are elderly and if I travel from Delhi to Kolkata, it isn’t safe either, as we could catch the infection- and travelling isn’t the smartest move at this time.”

However, speaking in regards to the new method of celebrating festivals is being thought-about amid the pandemic, i.e. digital celebration.

Saha shared about how this 12 months he’s going to have a good time the competition just about. He stated, “Usually, I used to go back to my hometown and gather with my childhood friends as we go for pandal hopping. This year I will be attending the online darshan–and receive blessings of the goddess.”

Talking in regards to the celebrations going digital amid the pandemic, Soumi Ghosh, a software program engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) stated, that in her dwelling city – Kolkata- Durga Puja is a big competition and it begins from the fifth day of Navratri and ends on Dussehra. Ghosh additionally shared that open pandals have been put in at some locations so, that folks can drive by and obtain darshan of the idols, and it will preserve social distancing.”

As she talked in regards to the digital celebration, the software program engineer stated, “My childhood friend has pooja at her home, and we all used to visit her home on Ashtami (eighth day) every year, but since the pandemic is there – we the childhood school friends are planning to do a video conference call. And to do this my friend Anjali said she will hold the phone close to the pandal so that we can all take the blessings of Goddess Durga.”

An inside designer, Jasmita Pattnaik, who stays in Delhi, and hails from Odisha, shared how the celebration of the competition has been modified amid the pandemic.

“Being an Odia girl, Durga Puja is the most awaited festival for me…every year I celebrate it with my family in Odisha. It not just a festival in Odisha, it is a symbol of unity, enthusiasm, fraternity and brotherhood, a representation of rich Odia culture and heritage. Durga puja is the time to cherish, enjoy and rejoice.”

On how this 12 months the pandemic has change into a spoilsport within the competition plans, Pattnaik stated, “Usually, all the family members and relatives celebrate this festival together, but due to this pandemic we are not able to celebrate this Dussehra like before. We have to follow the protocol, social distancing.

“Earlier, after finishing all the puja procedures and rituals we used to eat together, and celebrate the day by roaming around the city for pandal hopping, but this time people are not allowed for pandals, because the government declared the pandals/mandaps have to be covered on three sides. The 4th side would be covered in a way not to allow any public view of idols. There would be no darshan by public/devotees. The size of idols in all such poojas would be less than 4 feet and no public address system can be used.”

“The Government also said there would be no immersion procession and all ideals will be immersed in artificial ponds, created by local administration for the purpose. This is very painful for us,” stated Pattnaik.

“Earlier, during the puja times, the streets are flooded with chat stalls, toy stall, various puja items and special interesting stuff !! This time around roads are empty.”

Mosumi Chakrobatry, a marketing consultant at a company agency, who belongs to Kolkata shared how the household gathering which used to happen across the competition is just not there. She stated, “Durga puja is one of the festivals, when we get to meet your family and friends, however, this time it’s upside-down- because we cannot go to a pandal, and we have to go to a nearby temple, or will have to do the pooja at home. People can’t visit their hometown and we are feeling a little sad- as even if you visit any sort of Pandal, there is always a chance of catching the virus.”

Priyanka Sarkar, Account supervisor at Saints Art, stated that “ This time we are going to attend virtual aarti, and there will be no bhog (food offerings)- for which people used to gather in lines.”

“One of the traditions, that happens on the final day of Durga Puja is Sindoor Khela, actually (which means vermillion recreation). It is likely one of the traditions the place girls smear one another with sindoor (purple powder) on Vijayadashami, which won’t occur this 12 months. We used to assemble with pals normally, and dance round it was once a enjoyable celebration “

This 12 months, the festivities are dampened a bit, due to the pandemic. However, devotees are hopeful that the subsequent 12 months can be celebrated with nice fervour and so they aspire to bid the lethal virus goodbye.

(This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.)

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