PUJA SPECIAL - DESTINATION : The Ganga

PUJA SPECIAL –  River Cruise Tour :

By Partha Pratim Majumder

Destination : The Ganga

One River Cruise Out Of The Two

“Experience Bengal”’s Durga Puja  : A Rivercruise Way

The caption this year floated by Deptt. of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal & West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDCL) was “EXPERIENCE BENGAL - THE SWEETEST PART OF INDIA”.

Way To Jetty

There is hardly any doubt asto mere words can not describe what Puja means to Bengal and the Bengalees. It is perhaps the convergence of all quintessential components of life like :

         ·            Emotions

         ·            Culture

         ·            The cult of Goddess

         ·            The warmth of being together

         ·            The joy of celebrations

         ·            The pride of artistic expression  in search of variety and uniqueness and

         ·            Finally the love of life  

Therefore, Durga Puja is much more by several notches than just worship …… that’s why be it  Kolkata or the whole of West Bengal, so many thousands of pandals with amazing idols, glitz of illumination and loud beating  of drums (Dhaaker Awaaz) greet so many millions of puja revelers in new dress and shoes, who joyfully roar to  say -  “Been there – Seen that”.

With this tradition of a typical  carnival time, a slice monotony looms large in our mind to question – “Can’t we think beyond and celebrate in an innovative way? Can’t we go back to the soulful river or Maa Ganga  for  few hours ?

Yes, we can – thankfully by holding the hands of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDCL). 

It has been organizing several “Puja Special Package Tours” every year since long – out of the lot, one model i.e “River Cruise Tours” stands out of the crowd.

This cruise tour is made for a crowd that loves to be somewhere  far from the madding crowd ........ more in the aura of slow pace of life that believes things to be enjoyed with its subtlety and simplicity like the riverside buildings ....... standing aloft for so long 

WBTDCL  realizes this towards implementation 

River Cruise Tours : 

Every year, subject to date finalization, such tours take place on :

ü  Mahalaya Day for Tarpan – Morning Trip

ü  Shubha Saptami / Shubha Astami / Shubha Navami - Morning Trip & Evening Trip

ü  Shubha Bijoya Dashami – Immersion Trip

Baul Song 

Experience Bengal - A Lifetime Experience :

M.V Sarbamangala - Upperdeck 

         ·            On 22^nd October (Shubha Navami), I, as a first timer,  was on board with more than 100 tourists in its evening trip (6pm to 9pm) from New Babughat Jetty to Belur Math and back

         ·            A special gate @ New Babughat Jetty was set up to welcome the tourist traffic carrying tickets (either online or offline). Once checked by WBTDC Officials, you are given a Souvenir Bag with several booklets on tourism in WB and a token gift

         ·            There were two large and well illuminated vessels bound together (M.V.Sarvajaya & M.V.Sarbamangala) , hosting the event of cruising along the river while enjoying the rituals of exclusive Durgapuja on board with memorable musical soiree and an exotic Bengali cuisine to satisfy the tourists’ taste-buds

         ·            On entering the abode of Goddess on the riverbed, we all had the first but divine eye contact with “Maa Durga” , the idol in traditional attire  with her family in the lower deck of the 1^st vessel . The priest  and dhaki  were found to be attached and busy in rituals

Maa Durga @ The Vessel 

         ·            The musical function was  arranged on the upper deck of the 2^nd vessel, whereas the audience was found sitting having catering arrangement made on the upper deck of both the vessels

         ·            Just at 6pm, both the vessels tied together  started its journey amidst chanting of mantra and sound of drums (Dhaker Bajna). While leaving the jetty and listening to the Baul songs of  Birbhum ,  the crowd had the first sip of its fruit juice as “Welcome Drink”, accompanied a fistful of  starter items. Tea followed closely.

Ms.Moumita, The Anchor 

         ·            Ms. Moumita of “Akaash Aaath (8)” appeared as anchor and welcomed all the guests heartily , recited couple of Bengali poetry and then introduced Ms. Bandita Sarkar with her orchestra for an entertaining performance touching all taste points from Agamani to Rabindra Sangeet to Old Bengali Melodies to Hindi Foot Tapping Numbers of old & present time

         ·            Suddenly Moumita and all others spotted Mr. Arindam Ganguly, the famous iconic  singer cum “Shreeman Hansaraaj” famed actor  of Bengali Film Industry in the audience. He was present with Ms. Kheali Dastidar Ganguly , his wife and a team of his friends to enjoy the evening.

         ·            He, on a request for rendition of a few liner song of his choice, charted out one of the ever favourite Bengali folk song on “Ganga river” , originally sung by Late Nirmalendu Chowdhury, (the maestro of folk music of Bengal) in the film named “Ganga” in sixties , directed by Late Rajen Tarafdar

 

Mr. Arindam Ganguly 

         ·            It (“Ammai dubaili re amaai bhasaili re”) was a superb rendition without any accompaniment and through the use of a highly prepared voice quality , practiced  from his childhood, (when he was Master Arindam). His rendition on the river and remembering the river was truly an out of the world experience . Arindam mesmerized all to take the atmosphere to a different level

         ·            Thank you Arindam for showing your rare virtue of not having ego , which all of us must look at and follow. It was a sudden return gift from the guests  to WBTDCL for such awesome journey, arranged by them  

         ·            Our cruise navigated through the darkness gently in between the two lighted borders of the river …. crossed Howrah Bridge underneath … Nimtalla Ghat … Shova Bazar Ghat …. Kashipur Ghat… and finally close to Belur Math Ghat at about 7pm , when we could hear the chanting of devotional songs during “ Sandhyarati” going on

Howrah Bridge at night

         ·            Now, on the way back………. We touched upon all the timeless points of Ganga and its  riverside civilization. The river has been seeing celebration of life called “Durgotsav or Sarodotsov” for centuries as silent observer and finally the close down by the event “Immersion”

         ·            At about 8.30pm, we were served Dinner , having the following items on the menucard :

o    Salad

o    Rice & Luchi

o    Daal

o    Veg. Curry

o    Chicken Curry

o    Bhetki Paturi

o    Chaatney

o    Papad

o    Sweet Dish – Sandesh, Rossogolla,Gulabjamun and Icecream

o    Paan & Paan Masala

         ·            At 9pm, you are back to the point of commencement of the journey i.e New Babughat Jetty for departure to own destination

Upper Deck - It's light everywhere 

2016 booking : Where , How and When ?

Booking Office : Tourist Centre, 3/2, B.B.D Bag (E), Kolkata-7000 01 (P) 033-2248-8271 /2243-6440 (F) 2248-5168

• Online Booking & other information : www.wbtdc.gov.in/www.wbtourism.gov.in
• Email : tourismcentrekolkata@gmail.com

• Pocket Pinch : As per price fixed before booking is open next year / This year it was @ Rs.1300/- for the morning tour and Rs.1500/- for the evening tour
• Contact Person heading this program : G.M (Operations)

Belur Math at night from the vessel 

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