Puja 2004 Clippings Puja 2005 Clippings Lifestyle
Pally Lifestyle is a common era of Kolkata. It is like a cluster comprising of few families ranging from 50 to 500 in a locality. They share the well and woe of each other. Each of them is busy in his/her affairs but they stand by others in the dismay and also in the smiling days. Bijaya Sanmilani followed by Durga Puja is one such event when each of the residents of such localities visit each others' house or get- together at a common place to greet and meet each other. This brings a feeling of oneness among the residents. This tradition is being maintained by many a localities of the City of Joy - Kolkata. And this is a unique lifestyle of Kolkata for which people call the city Tilottama.
Dwijen Pally is one such locality in Behala area in the West of the City. Here live about 60 residents encircling a pond colloquially knows as "Hedor Pukur". The residents have been arranging Shyama Puja every year since 1986. It is a pleasure for the male folks to move from door to door of the residents for collecting contribution for the Kali Puja. The young ones conduct the Puja and arranges for everything that is required for Puja. The Puja is organized with sanctity and every Pally residents join to worship Goddess Kali. This gives them chance to stand under one roof of the pandal atleast once a year.
On the eve of Kali Puja, the children organize cultural function on the evening, day after Kali Puja. Children of the locality are meritorious students and remain busy in their studies during whole of the year. But they spare few days time prior to Kalipuja for rehearsing the events to be performed during the function. They sing, dance, recite and act. The little ones take part in the sit and draw competition. Awards are given to all for their performance.
Then comes the Sunday followed by the week when the residents gather for community lunch during the mid day. Every year, at the end of Kali Puja there is remains of some contribution. The elderly ones again move from door to door, collect contribution for arranging the community lunch. Good vegetarian food is cooked and served by the elderly females to all. Every one rejoices the food and interact with each other. In fact, the residents of Dwijen Pally longs for these few days every year to find an alternate means for their enjoyment. This is the typical life style of Kolkata, the residents of Dwijen Palli have been maintaining for years.