Divinity at a Distance

While most of Singapore is absorbed in a daily monotonous routine of getting back home and grabbing a bite at the local delicacy Kopitiam, a small hall at the far end of the posh Tessensohn Road comes alive with the beats of the dhak (minus the plumes). It was Mahashatami, the 3rd day of Durga Puja, and no Bengali would pass up a chance to partake in the festivities marking this day, be it in Kolkata or Singapore.

The only puja in the city is organised by the Bengali Association of Singapore and is among the largest events in their annual calendar. There is no pandal, no bright electric lighting and no thronging crowd, but there is a fervour with which people look forward to this event. The idols are shipped all the way from Bengal and festival is celebrated in all its glory over four days.

Though the pratima is much smaller compared to humongous ones back home, it ignites a spark of devotion along and some nostalgia with its intricate daker saaj and karigari, transporting the probasi Bengali back to his puja days in Kolkata.

The function hall is rented for the occasion and a week of cultural extravaganza is organised which is enhanced by the various singing and talent competitions.

The one thing that most die-hard Kolkatan will not miss is the crowd (since the hall is quite small compared to the size of the Bengali community in Singapore). Serpentine queues lead to the food stalls where a mouth watering fare consisting of luchi, aloor dum, pulao with chicken and fish curries is laid out for the crowd.

However, the area outside the hall is starkly quiet with no intricately decorated pandal or electric lights from Chandernagore to announce the presence of a puja. There is no crowd of pandal hopper jostling to catch a glimpse of the Goddess. Just a load of people piling into their Merc’s and Audii’s to get back home. I guess this is the way the Bengali out of the country lives, a dual life, that of Durgotsav and the Corporate.