Goddess Durga walked in her chariot In Masaimara, Africa, this time there will be worship of the Ten Angles
The ethnic group Maasai will worship Goddess Durga Just what Devotees hope that the goddess will stay in the Maasai village of Kenya surrounded by greenery
Preparations for the festival are going on in full swing in the entire state including Kolkata The work of making mandap has started The sculptors are very busy Not even three weeks left Durgo Festival is organized not only in West Bengal but also in other states of India and in different cities of the world Pujas are organized by expatriates outside West Bengal
Now a group of tourists from India are going to Maasaimara in Africa and organizing puja The goddess will be worshiped by the inhabitants of the Maasai village
Durga in the African jungle
Masaimara Sanctuary in Kenya, Africa World’s largest protected forest area Dhu Dhu rough desert and dry climate Sometimes shrubs This forest is the abode of animal king lion This lion is the ten-pointed vehicle One can remember the story of Satyajit Ray’s minor character Captain Spark in ‘Joy Baba Fallunath’. He told Feluda that the king of Africa had lost relics of their family The precious material was placed in the mouth of the vehicle of the idol made at home Durga has crossed his dera to the king of Africa Pratima flew from Kolkata to Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Sunday
Pratimar went to Kenya
A tourism organization plans to organize Durga Puja in the land of Maasai One of his officials, Rakhi Mitra Sarkar, will take a group of tourists to the Maasai village, where Durga Puja will take place. The idol was created by Kumortuli artist Mintu Pal Not fiber, clay idols Dressed in Atpaure 24 inches in height, 20 inches in width After the statue reaches Nairobi, it will be welcomed by members of Sekhakar’s Bengali organization Then Durga will leave for the Maasai village Not only Bengali, foreign tourists from different parts of the world will also join the Durgo Festival of Africa
Shankar’s feet
This novel trip is as thrilling as Shankar’s expedition to ‘Chander Pahar’! Organizer Rakhi told Deutsche Welle, ‘The idea is for cultural exchange.’ The scope of the ritual that is performed to say puja is limited here The main aim is to showcase Bengali culture.’ Its arrangement is quite amazing A puja ceremony will be held in the Maasai village inside the sanctuary Not only the idols, but the puja equipment as much as possible has been taken from Calcutta Incense-dust, bronze-bells are reaching Kenya The main phase of the puja will be completed in the Maasai villages between September 14-16 The pictures of that event will be brought forward by the tourism agency in Mahalaya
Worship by the Maasai
Three tourists Rita Basu, Shikha Majumder, Rakhi gave the main responsibility of organizing the puja to the trio government. Even if the tourist group returns on September 26, the three will remain They will go to the Maasai village on Saptami-Ashtami-Navami tithi in Bengali calendar Under their supervision, colorful, long-bodied Masai will perform puja in various decorations Those who live with the lions will get worship at the hands of the lion army Rakhi said, ‘The use of incense will be taught to the Maasai Will be taught to light the lamp Tourists will try to teach everything from brass bells to conch playing I asked him to take the video of this puja episode and send it to me.’
The lion army in the den of lions
It is customary to sacrifice the idol after the puja But where the Maasai villages will be floated? Artist Mintu Pal said, ‘Idols can be kept for two years There will be exactly one Our idol goes abroad every year After covid this time I got good response But my idol going to Maasai village, it feels different.’
Therefore, the idol will be in that Achin village In the lion’s den, under a canopy The Masai will take care of him throughout the year, lighting the lamp The king of Africa will protect the daughter of Bengali house!