(IN): One Puja in Kolkata says No to Animal Sacrifices !

[Guest guest]

Eid followed by Durga Puja in India, and you have blood and more blood

flowing Country wide.

 

In this blind faith of multiple religions whose followers firmly believe in

the 'Kill to Please God theory' there are still a few sensible citizens who

despite being ordinary citizens in a minority have still kept hope alive for

a civilized society.

 

Let us all extend full support to those in the *Haatkhola Dutta Bari* in

north Kolkata for offering 'Durga Puja' for centuries without killing or

sacrificing a single animal in the name of GOD for more than 250 years now.

 

Those willing to write may contact Ms. Bano Haralu, Senior Special

Correspondent of NDTV who highlighted this wonderful news and made this fact

known to us.

She can be contacted at: bano and planetbano

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

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<At the Haatkhola Duttabari puja there is no *boli* or animal sacrifice.>

 

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070029997 & ch=10/20/200\

7%208:40:00%20AM

 

*Bengali family keeps tradition alive

 

*Bano Haralu

Saturday, October 20, 2007 (Kolkata)

Bengalis are celebrating Navami, the last day of Durga puja on Saturday.

 

The *Haatkhola Dutta Bari* in north Kolkata has a unique way of celebrating

Durga Puja that dates back to over two centuries.

 

The *bonedi* or joint family can take pride in keeping alive a tradition of

worship that is 250 years long.

 

''I am the 28th generation. It's an honour. It's definitely an honour for a

long long time we are performing it. We are trying to maintain the theme of

the Puja with all its intricacies with all its which has been followed by

generations with all our might,'' said Sushanta Dutta, a member of the

family.

 

''Many have moved away but during the Pujas we all meet up and it's a very

happy occasion when we relive a tradition that is more than 250 years old,''

said Deepali Dutta, another member.

 

The tradition dates back to 1794 when Jagat Ram Dutta, the Diwan of the

British East India Company and patriarch of the Haatkhola Dutta Bari, held

the Durga Pujas for the first time.

 

At the Haatkhola Duttabari puja there is no *boli* or animal sacrifice.

 

''You have seen our Puja Thakur. The lion is in the shape of a horse. The

Barwari Pujas are not like that. The speciality in our structure is the *

chalchitra* in the background. There are three separate *chalchitras* with

specific drawings which we maintain year to year,'' said Alok Dutta.

 

Another tradition that the Haathkhola Duttas have tried to hold onto

literally through the centuries is to make the sweets at home that are

offered to the Goddess.

 

''At least twenty two varieties of sweets are made there for the *Bhog*, but

you can't taste them just yet not before they are offered to the Goddess,''

said Alok Dutta.

 

One tradition that has changed is that of releasing the Neelkantha bird or

the blue jay just before the end of the pujas. The exotic bird is on the

endangered list so the Duttas make do with a clay version.

 

The myth is, once the bird is released, it carries a message to Lord Shiva

that Goddess Durga is on her way back to Kailash. The clay bird is immersed

with the Goddess on the last day of the pujas, *Bijoya Dashami*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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