Ara never misses Durga Puja spirit of Bengal

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Amidst blowing of conch and chanting of vedic mantras, the eyes of the Goddess Durga were opened in the  morning on ‘saptami tithi’ first at the Aranya Devi temple, Ara,  followed by others in different parts of Bhojpur district. With opening of the ‘patt’ or the eyes, all the roads lead to Puja pandals. All roads have been tastefully decorated with lights. The big size idols and eye catching puja mandaps reflect the varied conception of individual artisans. Women offered clothes to Goddess Durga.

Heavy security arrangements have been made in Ara town and other parts of Bhojpur district in view of Durga Puja. Bhojpur SP Aditya Kumar said officials have directed to keep extra vigil in the sensitive areas. He said all security and precautionary measures have been taken to prevent any untoward incident during the festival. The SP said additional police pickets have been set up besides round the clock police patrolling in all the important and vulnerable areas. A large number of lady constables in addition to police force along with magistrates have been deputed for maintaining law and order during the festival.

Durga Puja festivity goes notch higher with the unique sound of dhaks renting the air during the ‘aarti’ at Druga Bari by the Bengali community here. The beats of dhaks heightened the Puja spirit. Ara never misses the festivity and spirit of Puja of Bengal. “In fact, Puja does not assume the festive aura without the beats of the dhak, the large drum that men hang around their necks and play with two thin sticks to infuse the frenzied rhythm into listeners,” said Soma Chatterji, organizer of Puja Committee at Durga Bari.

No ‘aarti’ can commence at any Puja pandals organized by Bengalis unless a dhaki starts playing the dhak. Most of the dhakis come from the districts like Malda, Purulia, Murshidabad, Bankura and Asansol in West Bengal to earn a livelihood during the Puja. The art of playing ‘dhak’ is normally handed over from one generation to another. “ We wait for this festival for one whole year,” said a dhaki from Asansol Ramgopal who is here this Puja. “The rhythm is no longer as slow as in earlier generations. Now-a-days dhakis opt for faster tunes,” he said.

Swaying dhanuchi dancers add to the festive mood on the beats of dhaks. “ The dhaki contest is about celebrating the true spirit of Puja and utilising this as a platform to recognise and reward the efforts of the dhakis,” said Soma Chatterji.