Experince: My first whole night trip on a Puja night

Yesterday was Mahapanchami.The first (officially Debi Durga's Bodhon takes place on a shashthi evening though!) day of the carnival called Durga Puja.Thousands (may be even lakhs!I am not sure) of people come out dressed in their new garments,trying to soak up every bit of the fun and frolic of the festive season.Every year I read about how so many people go pandal hopping the entire night,many friends and relatives also go.So this year I decided even I had to go. I could not miss out.Hoping to find the "superstars", "megastars" to be less crowded,we (Ma,Baba,Monai and me) ventired out at a little past 11:30pm.Our first destination was Sreebhumi Sporting Club. The lighting was amazing. Anything from toytrain to Paul the octopus(with Waka Waka playing at the background) to Kargil war was depicted in the lights.The pandal was towering.Although I couldn't quite make out what was it thay they actually wanted to depict.The chandelier was awesome. The idol was normal,nothing extraordinary.
Next we saw two amazing pandals at DumDum Park Tarun Sangha and Dumdum Park Bharat Chakra. The former had made the pandal with 700kg of towels.The overall ensemble was beautiful.Bharat Chakra had made a moving pandal.Every decoration was moving. The pandal was designed as a chariot because it also symbolised movement. Then we saw a few more Pujas and came to College Square. They make the same idol every year, the same chandelier. This time the interior was designed on the lines of the Louvre Museum, France.The reflection of the pandal on the waters of College Square is a must watch. I was totally bowled over.By this time it was already 4am. We started on our return journey. There was a huge traffic jam on College Street. nonetheless fighting the jam we reached home by 4:30.Tired we were,but I was highly satisfied with this unique experience.It was beautiful sight to watch the pandlas and the entire city decked up to welcome the Goddess.
Shubho Shasthi!

Here's a link to all the pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/suchetana.gupta/Panchami2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCP2fr-2wyoyAZA&feat=directlink

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