The Jagaddhatri Puja of Chandannagar has it's own fame and heritage. People from far distance gather every year at this ex-French colony in Hooghly district to witness this unique event. The pandals (temporary structures) and the idols carry distinct class of their intricate design, decoration and size; some idols rise as high as three storied buildings. The main attraction is at night, when the town dresses up with exquisite and fabulous light shows depicting different events from mythology to recent happenings, from Beijing Olympics to the characters of the Ramayana. The colorful electric bulbs spark art work and speak their own language delighting the visitors. This form of art has placed Chandannagar in a distinct position in the cultural heritage map of Bengal. The word 'Jagaddhatri' means The Protector of the World. Like Durga Puja, this Deity is also worshipped for three consecutive days (saptami, ashtami, navami - the 7th, 8th and 9th day). A central committee of Chandannagar Jagadhatri Puja manages this huge event of around 150. On the Dashami night (the tenth day) a procession of about 230 trucks carrying images goes around the town.
Courtesy: Sujit Sengupta (sujit_sengupta@hotmail.com). Picture: Sujit Sengupta, Pralay Debgupta, Tapan Ghosh, Basabdatta Ghosh, Dolon Dasgupta