Kolkata: Pandemic wave worries and bursts in the number of pujas after a year when the celebration is placed has encouraged Bengalis to live abroad to take a lightning course in how to do a complicated ritual for Durga Puja.
A number of Bengalis in countries such as the US, Britain and Thailand have trained themselves in “Shodos-Upachar” or a traditional 16-step method to worship Dewi.
The scarcity of the priests at the Pandal Pandal in these countries first felt last year when the other Movement and Covid-19 movement restrictions on the meeting was enforced.
“Five-six people are permitted in the celebration.
That actually means that Durga Puja is no longer” Sarbajanin “where the masses can participate.
It was limited to some family members.
It caused an increase in the number of pujas in the UK,” said Subhamay Bhattacharya, a resident of Wharf Canary on London.
It encourages Bhattacharya to start looking for books and online courses to do their own Puja Durga.
“There are more than 60 durga pujas in the UK and around 40 of them are located in and around London.
So, there is a scarcity of the priests.
That was exacerbated last year.
Bhattacharya volunteered to study the ritual and will do this time,” said Sourini Hazra, “said Sourini Hazra,” said Sourini Hazra, “said Sourini Hazra,” said Sourini Hazra, “said Sourini Hazra Founder of the Puja Bristol Committee.
“Many questions began to come from countries such as Britain and Thailand since the ranks were enforced.
In the absence of priests, they decided to be trained for different online pues,” said Nitai Chakraborty from the toll maniktala O Nabagraha Mandir.
Chakraborty solve the entire 16 step process into smaller parts and start teaching on a platform like zoom.
He uses WhatsApp to send audio recordings from spells for practice.
“It takes around three months to study the ritual” shodos-upachar “.
The hardest part is Sandhi-Puja, where complicated rituals must be completed within 48 minutes,” he said.
Arup Nandi, one of the organizers of Puja Durga in Voorhees – a city in New South Jersey, USA – said that nearly 20 families in the area decided to do puja separately last year.
“It’s hard to get an idol during a pandemic, so we decorate a big photo with Ghat in front of it,” he said.
Budhaditya Bhattacharya, a IT professional who has so far done pujas like Satyanarayan at his home, agreed to try Durga Puja for the first time.
He began learning from online and offline resources.
“The temple has a resident priest.
But it is difficult for the new Puja Committee to find a priest during a pandemic.
Many are worried about being infected,” Bhattacharya said.