About Us
History of Bengali Cultural Association, Noida sector 62
History of Bengali Cultural Association, Noida Sector 62 Uttar Pradesh
is a true 21st Century creation. Housing Societies started sprouting here and there and by year 2001, it looked like a skeleton. There were hardly proper roads and construction material sprayed all over and the noise of concrete mixers provided a monotonous music in the atmosphere.
With this background walked in a few Bengalis; who got early possession of their houses in some societies which were completed or partly completed. It was almost end of 2001 when this small group moved into Srijan Apartments, all from PDIL. They were M/S Shekhar Chandra Sen Sharma, Atanu Chakraborty, Dhiman Dutta, Late S Chattaraj & Proshanto Mukherjee. Mr. Sen Sharma who was earlier living in Vasundhara Enclave had been Secretary of Local Association and was already experienced in organizing Durga Puja there. Having shifted base the idea remained with him and the small team started discussing and exploring the possibility of organizing a Puja in Sector 62.
The idea took roots thick and fast and Bengali hunting started. No one knew anyone else living in a few more Apartments that existed by 2002. In this half deserted mini township, gradually acquaintances were established through deep exploration and soon M/S Debashish Chatterjee, Kalyan Dey, U. K. Ray, Ujjwal Bhattacharya, Nabendu Lodh, Gautam Roy, Samir Mukherjee, Subroto Bose, Mukul Mitra and T. Bandopadhyay (first highest collector) were traced and the team suddenly became strong with about 15 to 20 members.
Durga Puja is close to every Bengali’s heart and the idea was accepted immediately by everybody. A skeleton Committee was formed and the first of the Sector 62 Durga Puja was launched. A budget of Rs. 70000/- (Seventy Thousand Only) was estimated and approved but as the collection process started the bag was full with Rs. 3 Lakhs (Three Lakhs). It was nothing but Ma Durga’s blessings and one can easily imagine the elevated spirit of the unnamed Committee.
Thus the first Durga Puja in Sector 62 was celebrated in year 2002 at a small park adjacent to Nirupam Vatika with great pomp and show. BCA was subsequently registered as an organization in year 2003.
Puja was a grand success and a huge encouragement for the few members. The small function soon attracted many more new faces and the committee started bulging. After the first Puja in this park, the venue was shifted to the Tot Mall Park to accommodate big arrangements and larger crowd. Soon the Durga Puja became the Centre of attraction for the community in Sector 62 and the cultural activities broadened and engagement of people multiplied.
Durga Puja continued to be organized in the Tot Mall Park for 11 years consecutively but had to be shifted to B Block Park due to conversion of the playground into a garden. This will be the
Twentieth Year of celebration and with a strong membership base of more than two hundred families. Many Patrons pitched in and fund collection drive was innovated. The committee will always be grateful to these selfless promoters. It is needless to say that the Noida Authorities extended all the help from time to time and they deserve our profuse thanks. Today the Durga Puja is the only single largest annual social event in Sector 62.
Bengali Cultural Association (BCA) is a ‘No Profit No Loss’ Socio Religious Cultural Association mooted with the objective of spreading the Bengali Traditions and culture amongst the entire community irrespective of where they belong. While Durga Puja is celebrated in a large scale, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja are also celebrated with full rituals and devotion. The Pujas are celebrated with a view to keeping the mythological values, written in various scriptures, fresh in the minds of the new generation; accompanied by the joy of festivities through various cultural activities organized during the Puja days. This is also an effort to integrate the society at large and remind them about the rich traditions our ancestors had. Cultures are easily absorbed by people when packaged with fun, frolic, prayers, fasting, pious ceremonies, eateries, exhibitions, cultural programs, competitions, shopping and thus the engagement is severe. Many people literally weep after the celebrations are over; so much is the involvement.
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the Full Moon day after the Vijaya Dashami. Many communities celebrate Lakshmi Puja during Dipawali. In Bengali culture Kali Puja is celebrated during Dipawali. The story behind this is that Ma Kali destroyed all powerful Rakhshasas (Demons) blessed with lots of boons and liberated the heaven for ever from the clutches of the evil powers. Saraswati Puja is celebrated during the Spring Season (Basant) when the mother earth is calm and soothing and is also known as Basant Panchami to many communities. Ma Saraswati is known to be Goddess of Knowledge and small children are inducted into formal scribbling in front of the Devi by the priests or by elders. This is considered to be auspicious. In Bengali it is called “Haate Khori”. Books are also kept at the feet of the Goddess.
All the above Pujas are celebrated in various forms in different parts of our country by different community but the key theme everywhere is ‘Shakti’. Ma Durga is depicted in her glorious persona killing “Mahishasura”, the most evil Demon, with the trident in her hand. Bengali tradition of Durga Puja is weaved around Ma Parvati’s entire family since Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha are known to be her children according to mythology. Thus beneath one canopy; wealth, knowledge, beauty and wisdom are also worshipped. Durga Puja is the biggest festival for Bengalis yet millions of Non Bengali devotees join the Puja with equal fun and flair. Bengali style of worshipping is a mix of “Shakti & Peace”. Durga Puja is a family Puja and creates a great bond within the family as well as the community and showers a message of love for each other. Vijaya Dashami is the last day of Puja and the day has many stories of its being but for Bengalis, this is the day of bidding farewell to the Goddess who returns to her eternal abode along with her family. The time before the immersion is dedicated to married women who play vermilion with each other seeking blessings from Goddess to bestow long life to their spouse and family. This in Bengali is known as “Sindur Khela”. In the evening people exchange good wishes by hugging each other and celebrate by exchanging sweets which continues for many days. The reverberating sound of Dhaak (a special drum used in Bengal) and sound of conk shell dominates the Puja days and creates a tremendous emotional bonding amongst the Bengalis.
An extremely dedicated BCA Executive Committee tirelessly works year after year, joined by many volunteers; to make the celebration flawless and enjoyable; to the minutest detail. Many selfless Patrons contribute generously and they deserve our highest gratitude as without them the scale of Durga Puja will remain miniscule and probably a non event. Many more sponsors are showing interest in actively providing funds through various schemes of sponsorship and we welcome and thank them from the bottom of our heart. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Noida Administration for extending support year after year.
Traditionally Bengalis buy new clothes and get rid of old ones; and can easily be identified in the mob. One will be astonished to see the crowds pouring over the merchandize brought for special sale from all over the country and even from Bangladesh during these days. Hence this is a great opportunity for the merchants to earn good money. Wearing new clothes also signifies leaving old pains and agonies and start life with gaiety once again.
We have a vision to include all communities to participate in the grandeur of the Pujas so that the Pujas become a truly socio religious cultural event for all. We appeal to all communities to come and join us by taking membership and actively participate in the evolution of the celebration. We intend to create a United Sector 62 and exhibit a national responsibility of equality amongst all. All readers are welcome at our Pandal in Sector 62, B Block Park this year and take Ma Durga’s blessings.
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Appropriate contributions are given to Bharat Sevashram
