✍️By Special Correspondent
The Rajasthani festival of Gangaur is being celebrated in Kakurgachi area since 2010 by Purva Kolkata Maheshwari Sabha and around 1500 plus persons come together to celebrate the festival.
Gangaur is a women’s festival where the Gwarja and Isar, the incarnation of Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva are worshiped. Married ladies and young girls offers puja to the idols, apply mehndi, eat delicious prasad.The ladies organize a cultural program which is enjoyed by all.
Hemant Marda, President of the Purva Kolkata Maheshwari Sabha who is very actively associated with Gangour since beginning said that this year the 2 days celebrations were organized keeping all health safety point in mind. He said apart from Members and resident of locality, many persons from all over city always come for the Darsan & Puja.
The two day program was inaugurated by Binod Jaju, President of Vrihttar Kolkata Pradesh Maheshwari .Binod Jaju mentioned since inception PKMS is always organizing programs with a different flavor and grand manner.
Keeping in view the social welfare this year stationary items were distributed to 250 girls. MLA Paresh Paul also graced the function as Chief Guest and assured his full cooperation for the good works of PKMS. Bhawar Rathi, Suresh Jhawar, Gopal Damani, Bhagwati Mundhra & Narayan Manihar conducted the opening ceremony. Opening ceremony followed by Puja of Isar -Gawara by Vijay-Komal Chandak. The Prist did the puja with vedic mantra and many Rajasthani folk songs too.
The mehndi function was well organized by Anita Rathi. Manju Jhawar, Anju Bhutra for around 200 ladies. During Mehandi function, traditional Rajasthani GANGOUR songs were sung.
These songs bridge the gap between the old and new generation. The young girls are made aware of the traditional functions.
The evening Puja of God & goddess was performed by Shelja & Banwari Bahety.
The main attraction is always Gangour geets performed by the members which they practice for around one month and since everyone is familiar with film songs the tunes of some popular numbers are borrowed and replace the lyrics with devotional ones written by Shashi kothari & Vinay Lahoti .The singing team of around 16 male, female singers aged from 28 to 70 plus consist of Vamika Mohta, Ruchika Maheshwari, Padma bagri, Ravi Taparia, Giriraj Kothari, and others”. Raj kumar Dujari along with Giriraj Bhaiya coordinated the Gangour geet function which was held at Bhaiya chok on 3rd April 22.
Gangour Celebrations has started in Kolkata at Burrabazar area about 150 years ago,although now many groups like ours are holding it also said Ratan Bahety ,She is one of senior member of the group. She also said the members always look forward to celebrate gangour mahotsav as it gives everyone an opportunity to meet their near and dear one, and enjoy a get together in a family atmosphere of Rajasthani tradicition.
The 2nd day of the festival Puja was performed by Rashmi & rajesh Chandak and around 2000 ladies from all over Kolkata visited the Gangour festival and worshipped the idols. Sunita bahety, Raj kumari damani, Leela manihar, and many other members were very active in management for puja.
The Gangour Puja of Purva Kolkata is always very popular among the persons of different Sectors of Kolkata .Hemant Marda apart from Business also a film producer, also associated with many associations of Kolkata Many celebrities & Renowned Business persons attend the function and offer puja in these two days.