Durga Puja is almost here and the City of Joy Kolkata is in a festive mood, but not without its share of controversies. Thepuja organised by Sribhumi Sporting Club, one of the prime attractions during the autumnal festival, is at the centre of a storm this time. Not only Lord Kartik is shown to be riding a horse but Lord Gensha too is been depicted as riding an elephant.

According to Hindu beliefs, Kartik (or Kartikeya) rides a peacock whereas Ganesha's steed is a mouse. In Hinduism, almost all gods and goddesses have beasts as steeds.

Though the pandal will be thrown open to public only on October 11, it was temporarily opened for inauguration by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Photos were clicked and leaked on social media, and then people discovered this goof up. Many on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp mocked it while some branded it as an outright insult to Hinduism.

 

 

The Sribhumi puja is known for its grandeur and opulence. It hasn’t disappointed otherwise this year. A massive replica of the Chittor fort has been erected as the puja arena while the theme of Padmaavat (epic by Malik Muhammad Jayasi and a recent Bollywood film by Sanjay Leela Bhansali) has been replicated. But amid all this, the organisers probably have forgotten to check the basics, which has now acquired political hues.

Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh did not lose the opportunity to accuse the TMC of playing with the sentiments of Hindus. Talking to MyNation, Ghosh said, “What can be said about all these! Traditions are being broken in broad day light. Not only this fiasco but the chief minister is also inaugurating pandals before Mahalaya, which is not allowed.”

In the rush to compete in opulence, probably this age-old Durga Puja organisers have forgotten the very basics, which they would be embarrassed about throughout the days of the puja and perhaps beyond.

In Durga Puja, Goddess Durga is worshipped along with gods that, according to the Bengali tradition, constitute her entire family: Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya.