Pujo Pujo
The flavour of bangaliyana and pujo are a thing of the past now. From barir pujo, to theme pujo, we have seen it all, but now it is time for sponsored pujo. Move over Shobha Bajar or Mullick Barir Pujo time has come for branded pujo, you guys have to make do with small time glam on the telly. Ma Durga has to make way for sheer commercialization in 2008. I hear after the stream of awards that have mushroomed on the lines of Asian Paints Sharad Shamman every barowari pujo is a wannabe. As if that was not enough now the pujos even have "brand ambassadors"!!! Well, I for one have never been sold to the idea of indiscriminate brand ambassadors in product association but then I am just a regular citizen and the gurus tell me if a Sachin Tendulkar sells a 'Hero motor bike' and Amitabh Bacchan endorses some hair oil people actually buy that out of aspiration. As the cash register keeps ringing I am sure that is the case. But to sell a pujo with a brand ambassador is a definite first!
The commercialism is slowly creeping in Delhi too. Sad but true. Hey probashi bangalee shantir din guli sesh hoye elo ebar tomakeo ga bhashate hobey bishayane. In fact I hear some of the festivals have grown so big that they no longer ask for the regular "chaanda", these pujas are nowadays all about sponsorships! As a result of, which the people of the community are feeling quite removed from the experience. Essentially Durga pujo was all about getting to your home no matter where you lived in the world and meet family and friends. Ma Durga was the reason, which brought us Bengalis together at least for once a year, but today the picture is changing and changing very fast.
Some pics of the show stoppers in Kolkata this year. Along with endorsements, sponsorships totems are also in. But few traditional ones also rock on! Not to forget the ever topical and political Santosh Mitra Square. Although I have never had the urge to visit this pandal ever in my life time but every year I see reams and reams being written about them so here is my two bit for the same. Apart from Hindustan Park, Babu Bagan and Jodhpur Park too have gone for the Totem style of idol. How I wish simplicity to return to this fabulous festival. Dugga! Dugga!
Babu Bagan
Santosh Mitra Square
Jodhpur Park
Hatibagan Sarbojonin
The commercialism is slowly creeping in Delhi too. Sad but true. Hey probashi bangalee shantir din guli sesh hoye elo ebar tomakeo ga bhashate hobey bishayane. In fact I hear some of the festivals have grown so big that they no longer ask for the regular "chaanda", these pujas are nowadays all about sponsorships! As a result of, which the people of the community are feeling quite removed from the experience. Essentially Durga pujo was all about getting to your home no matter where you lived in the world and meet family and friends. Ma Durga was the reason, which brought us Bengalis together at least for once a year, but today the picture is changing and changing very fast.
Some pics of the show stoppers in Kolkata this year. Along with endorsements, sponsorships totems are also in. But few traditional ones also rock on! Not to forget the ever topical and political Santosh Mitra Square. Although I have never had the urge to visit this pandal ever in my life time but every year I see reams and reams being written about them so here is my two bit for the same. Apart from Hindustan Park, Babu Bagan and Jodhpur Park too have gone for the Totem style of idol. How I wish simplicity to return to this fabulous festival. Dugga! Dugga!
Babu Bagan
Santosh Mitra Square
Jodhpur Park
Hatibagan Sarbojonin
Comments
One of my friends, who happens to be from Andhra, says that Bengalis are too much politically informed...
I say that they are informed, but lazy...
I have come to the theory, whereever there are too many intelligent people, the place never does well..
Wherever there is are people sufficiently dumb to follow the rules, the place does well..