Durga Puja in Bangalore 2008

Hello Everybody!


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In continuation to my earlier posts about Durga Puja in Bangalore(2007) , here I present the updated list of sites where Durga Puja Celebrations are going on. There have been some minor changes in the venue of Puja and some additions. So far, there have been 34 puja's been registered with the Ulsoor Bengali Association, but listed below are the puja's I am aware of.

Following are the places, that I came to know through various sources, where Durga Puja Celebration is happening all around Bangalore this year (04 October 2008 to 09 October 2008).

1. Ulsoor Bengali Association (Location: RBANMS Exhibition Ground near Commercial Steet,Shivajinagar)


2. Socio Cultural, Indiranagar, Cambridge Layout (Location: Defence Colony Park in 2nd/3rd Cross joining 80Ft Road and 100Ft Road in Indiranagar, HAL 2nd Stage. Direction: From 80Ft road take the road opposite to Spencer's)


3. Koramangala, Sarathi Socio-Cultural Trust (Location: Mangala Kalyan Mantapa, 80 ft Road, Koramangala 8th Block. [Opp. Ganesha Temple, next to Aangan Restaurant, near Forum Mall])


4. Koramangala, Sarathi Socio Cultural Forum (Location: Muni Reddy Kalayana Manthapa,6th Block, Koramangala,(Location: 80 Ft Road, Opp. BMP Park & Near Koramangala Post Office))


5. JP Nagar, South Bangalore Cultural Association (Location: N.R.Kalyana Mantapa, adjacent to Mandavi Motors Workshop,Bannerghatta Road, 2nd phase J P Nagar)


6. Jayamahal Sarbajanin Durga Puja (Location: Jayamahal Ladies Club Ground, Off Nandi Durga Road, Jayamahal)


7. R.T.Nagar Bihari Association (Location : Next to Cafe Cafe Day in R.T.Nagar)


8. Airforce Command Hospital (Location: Inside Command Hospital, Cambridge Layout, Indiranagar/Another approach is there from Airport Road Side on the way to MGRoad)


9. Jalahalli Airforce Base (East/West) (Location: Jalahalli Airforce Base)


10. K.R.Puram Durga Puja (Location: Sea College Campus, Near K.R.Puram Main Market after I.T.I - Off old madras road)


11. Brookfield Durga Puja, POORVA BANGALORE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (Location: Opposite HLL, in marriage hall, close to Coffee Cafe Day)


12. Whitefield Durga Puja (Location: Inner Circle of Whitefield Village, close to Nilgiris in Whitefield)


13. Attibele Durga Puja, BANGALORE RURAL ASSOCIATION (Location: Near Attibele bus terminal circle, HosurRoad,3rd year)


14. Corporation Circle , Durga Puja (Location: Beside Hotel Geo near Hudson Circle and Bangalore Corporation)


15. AirForce Colony Murgeshpalya Durga Puja (Location: Murgeshpalya Army Base, Wind Tunnel Road, NearManipal hospital)
    
16. AirForce Campus Mekhri Circle Durga Puja (Location: Just after Mekhri Circle towards Hebbal on the left side of the Road)


17. Hosur, Durga Puja in Taluk office(Location: Near Balaji Theatre of Hosur City)


18. Marathahalli, Durga Puja near Marathahalli Bridge (Location: In Munnekolala, near to Marathahalli Railway Bridge on Varthur Main Rd)


19. Kaggadaspura Durga Puja (Second Year) (Location: 29 Cross, Janajeeva Nest, Near SCT College,Kaggadaspura, Bangalore.)


20. Malleshwaram (Location: Canara Bank Union Hall, Malleshwaram)


21. R. T.NAGAR SARBAJANIN DURGA PUJA SAMITI (Location: At Sai Baba Temple, Near R.T Nagar Bus Terminus)


22. BANSWADI BENGALI CULTURAL UNION - (Location: Sitarama Kalyana Mandap, Banaswadi main road, Bangalore-560 043 - Near Uttam Sagar Restaurant)


23. YELAHANKA, VIVEKANANDA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (Location: Seshadripuram 1st Grade College Campus, opposite Railway Reservation Counter, New Town, Yelahanka)


24. SANJAY NAGAR PUJA, ANTARANGA BENGALI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (Location: Ramana Maharishi Centre for Learning, Post Office Road, Sanjay Nagar)
25. Sai Samridhi , near Varthur-ITPL Road Signal on Varthur Main Road. They are organizing inside their apartment complex.
26. Nandini Layout, NORTH BANGALORE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (Location: “Mandir”; 8A, FTI Colony, Nandini Layout, Near Nandini Layout Bus Terminus)

Puja Schedule & Timings:[PDF][Webpage]

I wish you all sharadiya greetings on the occasion of Durga Puja Festival. Pujo sobaar bhalo katuk!

Best Regards,

Sourav

P.S: Feel free to ask me for any directions. Please post your feedback in blog's comment section or email me souravbasugmailcom.

Funny Conversation

Below are collection of some funny cutouts in Bengali which I had received through forwarded email. And here goes the translation:

Conversations Before Marriage: (After marriage:)
Boy: So, you are ready at last! I was hardly able to wait for it.
Girl: Will you leave me?
Boy: No not at all. Don't ever think about it.
Girl: Do you love me?
Boy: Obviously, forever.
Girl: Will you ever cheat me?
Boy: No way, how could you ever think about that?
Girl: Will you ever play with my beautiful hair?
Boy: Yes, whenever I will get a chance I will.
Girl: Will you ever hurt me?
Boy: Are you mad? I am not that type of person.
Girl: Would I will be able to trust on you?
Boy: Yes
Girl: Oh my Darling !!

(For coversation after marriage, just read the above conversations in reverse order (i.e, from bottom to top)).

And here is one more on definitions in Bengali...this one is difficult to be translated

Another Nostalgic Song in Bengali - E Jeno Ajana Ek Poth

E Jeno Ajana Ek Poth

Ke jane kothaye hobe sesh

Sapno eki cheye je dekhi

e jeno achena ek desh !

Janina du chokhe mor

E alo choralo aaj ke?

Janina notun e gaan

E prane bhoralo aaj ke?

Phurale e gaan robe resh

Ohhhhhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhhhhh Ohhhhhhh....

E Jeno Ajana Ek Poth

Ke jane kothaye hobe sesh

Khushi holo mon akhas ke aaj dekhe

kaatbe amaar belaa shudhu-i chobi enke

janina kane kane ki katha batash koye jaye

janina e mon amar kanoje jharna hoye jaye

hariye jete lage re

Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh....

E Jeno Ajana Ek Poth Ke jane kothaye hobe sesh

Sapno eki cheye je dekhi e jeno achena ek desh !

Another nostalgic bengali song from the film "Rajkanya (1965)". Actor Uttam Kumar is looking stunning in this song. Shymal Mitra's composition and singing has added the eternal touch to the song doing justification to the flawless lyrics.

Cannibalism - Yuck ! Yuck ! Yuck !

Today as I was searching for something on the web, my attention caught on an article posted in "How Stuffs Work" ... it is on How Cannibalism Works.

The first thing that comes into our mind whenever we hear the word Cannibalism is eating human flesh. The dictionary explains it as "The practice of eating the flesh of your own kind".

Just for the sake of curiosity I read the first page of the article. It is so fascinating that it has been there from pre-historic days and someway or the other people have been following it - some by means of rituals and others are forced to do so for living.

The article talks about two kind of cannibalism (aka anthropophagy in science):

1. Customary anthropophagy - where people practise this out of their interest.
2. Survival anthropophagy - where people have no other option but to adapt, for survival.

It is so amazing to know how at different situations people have turned into Survival Anthropophagy just for survival. It reminds me of a movie which I saw sometime back where people survived a plane crash on the high top of mountain and could survive 70 days by forcing themselves to eat people who died in the crash. And also about another documentary in Discovery Channel where they were showing how to survive in extreme situations like if you are deserted in a sea or island.

It was interesting reading to know about lot more facts and history associated with this. If interested please visit : http://history.howstuffworks.com/historians/cannibalism.htm

Anyway, to make it short, what I feel that all these facts proves clearly that we human have a strong presence of animal characteristics within ourselves and we can go to any extent for the sake of self survival. In turn, it also proves Darwin's theory on existing of species - hence leading to the truth that "Man is the most intelligent species in this World".

Subha Mahalaya

You can listen to Mahalaya online here:

PART1

PART2

Wish you Subha Mahalaya and Advance Sharodiya-r preeti subhechha !!

Main Jahaan Rahoon, Main Kahin Bhi Hoon

Very recently I heard this song from the film "Namastey London" at my friend Subham's house and got blown away by the song, tempo and its lyrics. I am liking it more I hear it. How could I ever miss to hear this song.... it is just awesomely sung and composed. Here goes the song and the lyrics following it:



Main Jahaan Rahoon, Main Kahin Bhi Hoon
Teri Yaad Saaath Hai
Kisi Se Kahoon, Ke Nahi Kahoon
Yeh Jo Dil Ki Baat Hai

Kehne Ko Saath Apane Ek Duniya Chalti Hai
Per Chhupke Is Dil Mein Tanhaayi Palti Hai
Bas Yaad Saath Hai , Teri Yaad Saaath Hai

Main Jahaan Rahoon, Main Kahin Bhi Hoon
Teri Yaad Saaath Hai

Kahin To Dil Mein Yaadon Ki, Ek Suli Gad Jaati Hai,
Kahin Har Ek Tasveer Bhahut Hi Dhondhali Pad Jati Hai,
Koi Nayi Duniya Ke Naye Rango Mein Khush Rehta Hai ,
Koi Sab Kuch Paake Bhi Yeh Mann Hi Mann Kehta Hai,
Kehne Ko Saath Apane Ek Duniya Chalti Hai ,
Per Chhupke Is Dil Mein Tanhaayi Palti Hai,
Bas Yaad Saath Hai , Teri Yaad Saaath Hai ,

Kahin To Beete Kal Ki yadein, Dil Mein Hi Utar Jaati Hai,
Kahin Jo Dhage Tute To Malaayen Bhikar Jaati ,
Koi Dil Mein Jagah Nayi, Baaton Ke Liye Rakhta Hai,
Koi Apni Palko Par Yaadon Ke Diye Rakhta Hai,
Kehne Ko Saath Apane Ek Duniya Chalti Hai ,
Per Chhupke Is Dil Mein Tanhaayi Palti Hai,
Bas Yaad Saath Hai , Teri Yaad Saaath Hai !!

Leh and Markha Valley Trek

20Jun2008, Sunday - Flight from Delhi to Leh :
The irritating alarm started ringing at 0245 hrs reminding me about my flight to Leh. I stopped the alarm and reluctantly got up from the cozy bed. After freshening up I took a quick shower and finalized my backpack packing and camera - all is well packed and batteries are fully charged. Ideally it should take around 30 minutes drive to reach Airport and would give me enough time board the Airdeccan flight departing at 5AM.

I got a phone call from Rahul-da who is anxiously waiting in the airport for me to join in. I assured him that I would reach well in time. My friend Partha, who works at Delhi drops me at Airport ... it took us 25 mins to reach the Delhi Airport from Partha's house. It is still dark outside and about to dawn. I found Rahul-da impatiently waiting at the entrance gate and together we went inside to collect the boarding pass. After getting the boarding pass, I went to meet the other new friends from Pune - Raja, his cousin Sunny, Leena, her sister Nirmal and Lekha. Raja was having a troubled time after he broke his glass but soon he could get his spare glass out of the checked in luggage during luggage identification.

Our flight departed at the right time and luckily I got the window seat. We could find very few Indians as co-passengers, except few newly married couples. We realized that the temperature difference between outside and inside the aircraft is causing the fog coming outside of the air conditioner.

The flight duration from Delhi to Leh is just 1Hr30min. I could see many co-passengers continuing their sleep inside the aircraft, while few others like me are excited about flying over the Himalayas and peeping out of the porthole to capture the snow capped Himalayan mountain peaks. I could get great views of the Himalayas which is difficult to explain. I tried to capture them with my camera.

Soon, the landscape changed from black and white snow filled mountains to barren rocky mountains with very fewer green vegetation in pockets of valleys. The water stream running through the vast mountain desert tell us all about the rough weather condition in that vast terrain. The light and shade compositions attributed by the sunlight and clouds are just fascinating which keeps changing as the clouds keep floating around. So, the same frame would look very different from time to time with the play of lights and shades.

The flight gradually descended taking sharp turns and twists on to the plains of Leh. We all passengers were thrilled as the wings of the aircraft went unusually close to a monastery (Spituk Monastery) just before touching the small airstrip of Leh. The passengers applauded and cheered after the skillful landing of the aircraft.

Leh Airport is restricted army area and all passengers are escorted by jawans with smile on their face. The moment we descended from the Aircraft, we all were left spellbound for few moments by the sights outside. The magnificent view of lofty mountains and colouration due play of sunlight and white fluffy clouds filled all our heart. This is what we were longing to see in our naked eyes. It is something natural and unbelievable. We could see mountainous desert all around us and some snow filled white peaks. We couldn't stopped taking out our camera but soon stopped by security guards because of army restrictions.

Soon after collecting all our luggage we stepped out of the Airport and found someone from Tapo Stanzin's office waiting for us to receive us. He took us to Mahey Guest House located in Tukcha Main Road, Leh. We are suppose to take rest for two days to get acclimatized to Leh's high altitude before we start our trek.

The Mahey Guest House provided us a cozy and homely environment. The view from the courtyard is remarkable. They have a small garden where we could find variety of flowers and vegetables. The green of the garden gives a very good match to dark grey mountains in the front with brilliant white peaks and blue sky. The white cloud playing a vital role in forming patterns of shadows on the mountains and plains in the front. And the pattern keeps changing every minute because of drifting clouds.

I could experienced that the place is unusually calm and quite. It is so quieter that one could hear the humming flies or bees passing by - everything felt so nicer to our eyes and ears. The view from Mahey Valley Guest House is so much picturesque. The colourful flowers in midst of green vegetations, dark mountains in the front with blue sky is just awesome. I felt like sitting there rest of the day and watch them again and over again. I could see so many sparrows and other birds chirping and playing around the coutyard of our guest house.

As we entered the guest house we found an inviting dining hall cum lobby decorated in tibetian/ladakhi style - tea table and low raised cushioned seats running all around the endge of the room - very similar to Japanese dining setup. The tibetian chanting music playing at the background have added a new dimension to the setup.

We were all very hungry, having skipped our morning breakfasts. We quickly ordered for our breakfast and went for freshening up. We finished our breakfast in our room and crashed in the bed. It was late afternoon when we woke up and hungry too. We quickly ordered for our lunch meals and gathered in the courtyard of the guesthouse for a lavish lunch. Most of the vegetables (cauliflowers, cabbages, peas), were hand picked from the garden of the guest house, had added pleasant taste to our food. After stomach full of lunch we crashed once more into our bed.

Some of us, including me was feeling slight headache, due to high altitude and lack of oxygen supply to our brain. It was only end of 2nd day when the headache had completely gone.

Rest of the day we spent watching movies in the lobby room, sipping cup of tea and admiring the view of the mountains and flowers in the guesthouse. At night we had one more round of delicious meal and went to our bed. Getting sleep was bit uneasy for many of us and we had to get up many times between our sleep to catch our breath.

21Jun2008, Monday - Resting in Leh :
(CONTINUES... ... ...)