Know about Haridwar Durga Puja
Durga puja is celebrated in Haridwar with great enthusiasm. The worship of Divine Mother Durga has been performed through Years and it is third generations that they are continuing this with same devotion. The passion, and devotion have not been downgraded. Annual Durga Utsav is celebrated with the same traditional piousness and happiness which makes the Sarbojanik Durga Puja of Haridwar standing tall in the entire region. Even the two years of the pandemic struggle, has not been able to reduce the happiness of the people. During these two years the crowd and fanfare of the Sarodiya season may have been less but the spirit of it all were very much present among the people. this year too, we committed to continue.
Sarbojanik Durga Puja, under Bongiya Parishad-Haridwar- Sarbojanin Durga Puja Utsav Committee, is being celebrated through years. The committee baton has obviously changed hands but the stature and devotion of celebrating the Queen of all festivals have never deviated from the traditional form of devotion and commitment.
Arrangements for Durga Utsav is made with public donations and the worship is performed including daily distribution of Prasad and Bogh. We committed towards our society hence undertook some part of social and cultural responsibility to ensure all our future generation inherits the rich cultural heritage and enhance their cultural, artistic, and social experience. During Durga Utsav, we organise cultural program and appeal children to participate in this. It is 5 days full length celebration, which starts on Shasthi and ends with visarjan of Idols. Our committee members not only support but put their involvement also during Durga Puja. Preparation of Durga Utsav starts well before this through regular meetings before 3 months.
Throwing light on the: history of Haridwar Durga:
It was 1950 when Late Shri R.L. Chatterjee got transfer in Northern Railway-Haridwar as Station Master, then in May 1964 Late Shri Dr.G.C Chandra joined as Medical Officer in the same Railway Station. In July 1964, the journey of Durga Puja started with a meeting at the residence of Late Shri G.C. Chandra. And in the same year 1964 the Dwelling of God, Haridwar saw its first ever Durga Puja with combined effort of Bengalee Employee of Railway and Bengalee Employee of the newly established BHEL Haridwar. In 1964 Late Shri R.S. Gehlot, Late Shri Amar Chatterjee were elected as President and Secretary of Durga Puja Committee respectively, both were employee of BHEL- Haridwar. Shri Chakraborty, Late D.N. Banerjee, and Shri A.M. Gupta were elected as President,
Secretary and Treasurer respectively in 1965.Then the time came when the BHEL employees separated themself from this Durga Puja Committee and started celebrating Durga Puja separately in 1967.But the Durga Puja at Haridwar Recreation club continued at the same place in same way by rest committee members.
In 1966, the Durga Puja committee made Late Shri Dr.G.C Chandra the president and along with him, Shri R.L. Chatterjee was chosen as the secretary. Both have graced this post for more than 20 years and have remained guiding lights for many years. Shri S.C. Bhattacharya, who is now our veteran member of the Durga Puja Committee, was selected for the post of Treasurer. After the demise of Shri R.L. Chatterjee and Shri Dr.G.C. Chandra, Shri S.C. Bhattacharya and Shri Barun Kumar Chandra headed this Durga Puja from 1987 to 2009.The contribution of Late Shri AM Gupta, Late Shri GC Chandra, and Late Shri RL Chatterjee in the alliance of Durga Puja Utsav Committee cannot be forgotten.
After the Durga Puja festival was celebrated at the Railway Recreation Club from 1964 to 2009, the puja moved to Rajlok Vihar, New Haridwar in 2010 due to the expansion of the railway station, with great cooperation of Shri Lokpal Singh and Shri Rajesh Chauhan. During celebration of Durga Puja at Rajlok Vihar, the support and cooperation from GURU SHADHAN KUTIR cannot be forgotten,
especially Shri Gobindo Jee. At present it is being celebrated in the courtyard of Bharat Sevashram Sangha-Hariwar.
Conclude:
Time ticked on and the year passed away, but the one thing did not change, that is Durga Puja in Haridwar. In the due course of time, this developed to a greater size by supporting each other and developing binding relationships among each other. In the journey of last 59 years, many people have contributed and helped in Durga Puja, for which this Durga Puja Committee is thankful to them. And
with the hope that in the coming years, our new generation will take the lead in Durga Puja, we are celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2013.
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