Durga in Dantan eradicates epidemic

Today is the first day of Navaratri, 2021. I wrote on Bengali Durga worship and it's political, economic and social aspects before. However this year, I have a desire to write on some traditional Durgapuja which are being organised in different parts of West Bengal for over hundred years. And each one of these are unique its own way. 

Let's start from the southern part of West Bengal. There is a district called Midnapore which was once included in Dandabhukti area - that is a story of fourth century CE. No, we did not worship Durga those days. History of Durgapuja in its current form is not more that four hundred years old.

We know the name of Dantan in Midnapore district of today’s West Bengal in association with a 12^th century Buddhist monastery in Moghalmari. The name Moghalmari must have been evolved during Mughal period. The ancient name of this region was Dandabhukti. But today’s Dantan celebrates the mother Goddess Durga more than Buddha or any other ancient god.

From learningobjects.wesleyan.edu/naya/intro.html Durga as depicted in a Midnapore scroll painting of Chandimangal

The Durgapuja of Dantan DasMohapatra family started presumably in the year 1742.

Like most of the old Bengali Zamindar families, they too have unique legendary stories and unique custom associated with the Durga festival.

Sometime in 17^th\18th century, Birinchi Mohanti from Cuttack left home to go to Murshidbad, the Capital of Bengal in search of a job. Those days, people had to walk entire route to reach the destination. He lost the direction somewhere near Dantan and fell unconscious. The local Brahmin landlord rescued him. After getting cured, he began working for the landlord and in course of time, became a trustworthy person. As the landlord decided to move to the sacred temple city of Kashi in his old age, he divided his estate between his daughter and Birinchi Mohanti. Later, Birinchi’s share was divided between his two sons. Durgapuja was started by the descendant of his younger son during British era. Same Puja rituals are maintained till today.

This Durgapuja does not follow the Bengali DurgaPuja schedule. It starts from first day of Hindu Navaratri and ends in last day of Navaratri. Starting from this day, hundred fifty kg of popped rice is burnt every day before the goddess praying for an epidemic-free life in the region. Needless to say, disease and epidemic were common threat at a time when medical science was not developed. During this Covid19 era, this prayer for epidemic eradication, Mahaamaari Pujaa in Bengali, adds special significance. 

Another interesting custom followed in this Puja is, the entire loads of sweetmeat prepared for the Goddess by the family is distributed among the visitors, while the family members are not supposed to eat those. Concept is, food given to the divine should be given to people; should not be kept for self consumption. 

Though not directly, traditional Bengali plays (jatra), Mangalsong- medieval Bengali devotional songs, of which Chandimangal is one, are part of this Durgapuja. Villagers from this area come here in large numbers during the festival days to pray to the Goddess, attend the rituals and enjoy the music and plays.