Dashami Farewell: Kolkata’s Bonedi Bari Pujas in All Their Glory - GetBengal Story

In Kolkata, Durga Puja is much more than a festival, it is an emotion that engulfs the city in joy, light and devotion. The bonedi bari pujas are the type of pujas hosted by rich, old families and are a testament to our history, culture, and tradition - in a world of chaotic, glittering pandals bursting with themes loved by modern puja-goers, these pujas are the ultimate testament to legacies preserved through centuries! These are the pujas where every ritual, every adornment and every celebration is evidence and a remembrance of the family's legacy carried on from generations.

Visiting the bonedi bari pujas on Dashami is akin to taking a walk through the very heart of Kolkata. One can see harmony in diversity, joy in celebrating traditions and devotion that transcends time.

In Kolkata, these bonedi bari pujas are not only concerned with spectacle, but also deeply rooted in tradition and community. While everyone has their own style of clay idol, puja and rituals, they all respect tradition, creating a wonderful and enriching experience of unity in diversity.

Some of the most renowned bonedi bari pujas include:

1. Jorasanko Shib Krishna Daw Bari
At this place, the Durga idol is dressed in layers of weaved sarees and regal jewelry, showcasing royal charm. The puja follows all Vedic rituals adhering strictly and pushes for both the pushpanjali morning and evening. The visarjan with the utmost pomp is a procession on Dashami with prayers, waving of lights, Dhaki, and chanting in foreground, all integral to a finale.

2. Sobhabazar Rajbari
Here, one of Kolkata’s best-known pujas, is characterized by an extraordinary large, caste idol with garments of jewelry. The family conducts the morning aarti, followed by a dhunuchi naach, and offers the bhog to the devotees. Dashami is celebrated with the Sindur Khela, smeared with each other, celebrating the feminine energy and bonding among women.

3. Thanthania Dutta Bari 
This puja is known for the magnificently crafted idol adorned in the elegant traditional Bengali fashion. The rituals have a focus on pradip arati, the lighting of hundreds of lamps around the idol. On Dashami, the lamps guide the would-be departing goddess and her devotees as they leave, accompanied by rhythmic beats from traditional drums.

4. Chhatu Babu-Latu Babu Bari
While smaller in size, the idol is beautifully crafted and features intricate painting. Their puja entails morning aarti, reciting of shlokas, singing devotional songs. For Dashami, there is traditionally dhunuchi naach, and neighbors are invited to part with a farewell celebration.

5. Chorebagan Mitra Bari
The features of the idol are bedecked ornately with hand-crafted ornaments and silks sarees. Their puja is engaging in the community for bhog and evening aarti. The Dashami highlight involves a local procession that takes off the goddess, while blowing the conch and chanting hymns, as an expression of unity and devotion.

6. Hathkhola Dutta Bari
They are identified for their puja and honoring their ancestors. The idol symbolizes tradition, employs peaceful expressions, and is placed among the traditional floral arrangements. Their puja incorporates prayers for the family lineage, socioculturally, while for Dashami, there is a quiet but sincere immersion, as the goddess passes in continuity between divine and familial heritage.

7. Pathuriaghata Rajbari 
This puja is remarkable for its large-single idol dressed in a number of sarees and jewelry. The rituals of this puja include some bhog, mantra recitation, and evening aarti. Dashami is celebrated with prashad offered to the devotees of the puja, and they share blessings and rejoice in the experience. 

8. Laha Bari
Though the idol is not flashy, it is presented in grace, calmness and a traditional 'Bengali' style with simple and minimal ornamentation. The puja is centered around chanting, bhog and family prayers. On Dashami, the farewell was emotional, in which devotees offered their prayers as the goddess departed.

9. Rani Rashmoni Bari
The idol presents itself in grand, imposing, and majestic form, set upon its royal heritage. The puja involves elaborate aarti, music, and performances of various cultural activities. Dashami is celebrated with an emotional farewell through music, dance, prayer of devotion for the goddess, and the balance of joy and reverence.
 
While the specifics may differ—how the lamps are lit, the singing of the songs, or the setting up of the feast—the foundation is always the same: love, devotion, and respect for a culture. 

In Kolkata, these bonedi bari pujas are not only concerned with spectacle, but also deeply rooted in tradition and community.

Visiting the bonedi bari pujas on Dashami is akin to taking a walk through the very heart of Kolkata. One can see harmony in diversity, joy in celebrating traditions and devotion that transcends time. These bonedi pujas don’t simply remind us individuals celebrate festivals, they emphasize heritage, family, and values that hold communities together. 

The bonedi bari Durga Pujas of Kolkata are narratives of art, faith, and family, continuing forward and shining through times, inviting everyone to come, and share in their magic.

Image courtesy: Social media pages of the respective bonedi houses.