“Tag, you’re it!” screamed my friend, as we were playing tag. This is the time of Durga Puja, a yearly festival for the bengalis, where ladies looking prettier than ever, dads looking different and talking about “dad stuff”, and kids playing a whole lot of games. If they are doing none of the above, then they are standing in line for the amazing street food from the food stalls. The cute little girls pleading to their parents to let them apply henna … and eventually the parents giving in.
Durga puja is celebrated in the month of Sept/Oct by Bengalis all over the world. This is a four day festival. The size and scale of the celebration depends on the size of the community. Here in Northern California, as I heard from my parents, there used to be only one puja. As the community grew, the number of puja’s also increased. Today there are about a dozen pujas. Grandparents and relatives visiting get a feel of home during this time. You will find girls, irrespective of their age, donning new dresses every day. I learned from my parents that wearing a new dress on every day of the puja is the custom. Hardly applicable to the boys, but the girls do tend to follow it. You get to see a lot of cultural programs performed by local talents. The Durga puja provides a platform, where kids can perform and get an exposure to their culture.
Northern California is celebrating the Durga Puja in the month of October. I visited quite a few of them in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sanskriti
Sanskriti puja is always celebrated in the weekends. This puja normally kicks off the festive season. This is one of the oldest Puja and it is quite famous for its innovative decoration every year. This puja is also very popular because of it’s community cultural programs and the awesome stalls selling Indian handicrafts. They provide a good platform for the young kids to showcase their talents through the cultural program. I always had a soft corner for this puja. I have grown up performing in the cultural program for so many years. My mom has been an active volunteer in the decorations committee from the very first year of this Puja. Lot of childhood memories are wrapped around this Puja.
This year there is a plan to have an Antakshari Competition.
Pashchimi
This is the most popular Durga Puja. As a result, it gets very crowded. In fact, it gets so crowded that at times it becomes a safety issue. This puja follows the real Hindu Calendar and celebrates it on the actual days. Most vendors setup stalls here to take advantage of the large crowd. General parking is available but not very close to the site.
Prabasi
Prabasi is the oldest puja in the Bay Area. It is also celebrated in the weekends. SF Bay Area old timers always make it a point to visit this one. They also host cultural programs with local and international talents. Here you will find many stalls selling jewelry and ethnic dresses. There are many food stalls too.
Silicon Valley Sarbojonin Durgotsav
This is a new Pujo celebrating only its second year and adding to the number of Pujo’s in Bay Area. A new pujo is always welcome in the Bay Area. More places to visit and show off your dresses. Bengalis love for food, art and music is most evident during Durga Puja. A cultural program is almost a must in every pujo. Make sure to fill out the participation form if you are interested in performing in the cultural program.The organizers are very welcoming and makes the participants feel cozy and comfortable.
Agomoni
Agomoni is the Newest puja in the Area. It is also celebrated in the weekends. This is so new that there isn’t much to write about.
Women’s Now
Women’s Now puja is relatively new. It is celebrated on actual days. This puja has a modern flavor. They specialize in providing authentic Kolkata Backdrop for clicking pictures.
Festival of Globe(FOG)
FOG puja is relatively new. It is celebrated on actual days. This puja is done on a very small scale.
BayBasi
This Puja is not as old as Prabasi and Sanskriti but fairly old organization. The decoration is quite unique although does not change much over the years. The members are a tight knit community in the Peninsula region of the SF Bay Area. They also have a Dandiya night on one of the Puja days. The cultural programs are efforts mainly from the members of the community.
Bengal Club of Bay Area
This is a very new Puja. A new kid on the block. It is just a One day event.