Celebration of Viswakarma in the Industrial Towns.
Viswakarma Puja celebrated with full enthusiasm in a pomp and grandeur manner in this industrial cities. Most of the industries, Offices and Factories in this twin city all were in a festive look on this auspicious occasion. Somewhere beautifully decorated pandals were seen and somewhere the workshops, warehouses and even the small scale cottage industries premises were cleaned and decorated with mango leaves, banana plants and beautified with alpana and paper chains of different colours. The industrial town and the coal belt as a whole had come alive with gorgeous pandals and loud speakers and the chanting of mantras by the priests.
“In fact the month September bring an essence of festivities. The pleasant weather of early autumn, fleecy clouds scattered across the sky looks more colorful with the numerous kites of different colour floating side by side on this festive day and with the essence of siuli and swaying beauty of kash – creates a festive mood. In fact from the day of Viswakarma Puja the smell of puja starts. Viswakarma puja bring an inspiration to the workers to create new products and increase productivity. As a mark of reverence Lord Viswakarma is not only worshiped by the engineering and architectural community but also by all professionals. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools and tackles in his name.”- says Mr. Dinesh Kumar Singh, Electrical Superintendent-1 of Durgapur Thermal Power Station.
The rituals are following by the distribution of Prasad and sweets packets. Almost all the organizers arrange for bhog that is khichuri and some veg. items are served in the puja pandal at noon. In the evening some arrange for party or a gate-together and arrange for sumptuous meal with some cultural activities. Hopping pandals throughout the city is another enjoyment for the young and kids. The contractors and the suppliers all arrange for sweet packets in a large scale for the entertainment of their clients on the hope of doing their business well through out the year.
The famous sweet shops of this city like Arun Sweets, Rabin Sweets, Saha Sweets, Subhash Sweets, Swapan Sweets & Murarui Sweets all remain busy for preparing packets with varieties of sweetmeats. Almost all the owners of such shops have hanged the board as ‘Order Closed’. Some of them offer dry sweet packets of Haldiram or canned Rasogollas or Gulabjamuns of K.C. Das or Ganguram.
Fruit and flower sellers were also busy this year for their huge sale. Varieties of fruits are coming during this season. Now fruits from some other countries are also imported for selling in the markets of Durgapur & Asansol.
Side by side the demands of the priests irrespective of their reputation or efficiency were busy to the extent. In industrial town everybody arranges for a small puja anusthan in their home for their most favourite vehicles or dream cars and prays to the Goddess of Divine Architect for their safe and trouble free journey throughout the year.
Basudev Chatterjee a renowned priest of Milan Pally says, “After a long years this Viswakarma puja was celebrated on 18th of September which is scheduled to be held on 17th of September almost every year. But ritually Viswakarma Puja happens to be celebrated on the day of sankranti that is the last of the month of Bhadra according to Bengali Calendar. As this year Sankranti is on 18th of September so this Puja is celebrated on this day. I remain extremely busy to perform the pujas of many small scale industries, workshops beside my regular day to day Puja.”
Township, A-Zone Maintenance Office arrange for a fair from the day of this Puja. This fair is running since year after year. Besides the fair they arrange their Puja in the Maintenance Office in a large scale. High officials of Durgapur Steel Plant and Alloy Steels Plant, Leaders and other eminent personalities all attend the puja. The fair is also very nice and from the commercial point of view it has much importance particularly before the puja people of this city get an additional facility for shopping of various domestic and decorative items.
Sushil Bhattacherjee, the National Teacher says, “Viswakarma is regarded as the supreme worker, the very essence of excellence and quality in craftsmanship. He is revealed as the God of sciences of industry. All the workers and engineers pray to this Patron God for their courage and inspiration. All over this industrial belt workshops and manufacturing units are in festive mood. In Mahabharata, Viswakarma has been described as the lord of Arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of the gods, the most eminent artisan, the fashion of all ornaments and a great immortal God.
“Viswakarma Puja is also associated with the buoyant custom of flying kites. This occasion also marks the starting of the festive season. Throughout the day colorful kites are flown. The sky fills up with all shades of colour and the sky becomes a war zone. It’s really amazing when people see the descent kites dropping every now and then with the cry of ‘Bho-Kattaa’. But this scene is rare now in this city. The young guys remain too busy with their career oriented jobs and have no time to spare for such amusements. ” –says Samaresh Mazumdar of A-Zone Steel Township.
Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee.
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