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By: Asian Media USA (02/12/2011) Bengali Association of Greater Chicago celebrated Saraswati Puja

Chicago IL: Bengali Association of Greater Chicago celebrated Saraswati Puja at on 12th February 2011 with about 500 people joining the festivities at Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago, 435 N. Route 59, Bartlett, IL. The day started with the puja to Goddess Saraswati with the chanting of Mantras and Stotra with floral offerings (Pushpanjali). It was followed by a delicious Bengali lunch and a warm gathering of the devotees present for the occasion. Mr. R. Chattopadhyay, Vice Consul of India was the honorable guest. .

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Bengali Association of Greater Chicago celebrated Saraswati Puja

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Asian Media USA © Bengali Association of Greater Chicago celebrated Saraswati Puja at on 12th February 2011 with about 500 people joining the festivities at Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago, 435 N. Route 59, Bartlett, IL. The day started with the puja to Goddess Saraswati with the chanting of Mantras and Stotra with floral offerings (Pushpanjali). It was followed by a delicious Bengali lunch.

Mr. R. Chattopadhyay, Vice Consul of India was the honorable guest. Bengali Association of Greater Chicago members S.Raychaudhuri (President), Tarun Chaudhury (Vice-President), Asim Gangopadhyay (Secretary), Sridhar Adhya (Treasurer); Shilpa Datta, Kinsuk Maitra Rubal Dasgupta (Cultural), Uditt Mukherjee, Basudeb Dey, Deep Bandyopadyay, Subrata De (Food), Sanchayita Datta, Shubhra Ganguli (Puja), Soma Sanyal (Puja Subcommittee), Sunayana Yang, Samita DasSarkar (Newsletter), Prashanta Ghosh, Milan Banerjee, Prasenjit.Adhikari, Debarshee Kar (Facilities) and Debasis Chatterjee (Registration) several prominent community leaders and lots of devotees participate in celebration of Saraswati Puja.

Forty-one years ago, thirteen thousand miles away from their homeland, fourteen Bengali families started the tradition of organizing Bengali religious and social events in Chicago area. Within just a few years more Bengali families joined, and in 1977 the Bengali Association of Greater Chicago (BAGC) was formally established. Since then BAGC has grown into a large and vibrant community. Now the BAGC Durga Puja celebration attracts nearly one thousand five hundred people. Yet the basic nature of BAGC has not changed. The expression of love for Bengali culture and celebration of religious and social events still bind this community.

The Cultural and the Youth Committees presented memorable performances with a large number of participants from the community and a drama group from New Jersey. The event was spanned almost twelve hours.

Different regions of India follow the Hindu mythology is slightly different ways. According to the Bengali thinking, Lord Shiva and his wife Durga are said to have four children. Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesh and Kartik. Each possessing an attribute or quality, and when viewed together as one, demonstrates the concept of balance in life. Saraswati embodies learning and knowledge. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and economic prosperity. Ganesh is the remover of obstacle and Kartik for grace and leadership.

As the scriptures describe Brahma was so impressed with Saraswati’s beauty that he could not take his eyes off her. He had four heads and later evens a fifth one so he could always keep her in sight. To escape Brahma’s constant attention, Saraswati changed her form many times, thereby being known as Shatarupa (100 forms). She was so angered by Brahma’s behavior that she cursed him that he will never be worshipped by anyone. Even today, barring a couple of temples, Brahma is not worshipped like the other members of the Trinity. As the story goes, in the end Saraswati had to give in to Brahma’s wooing and became his wife.

In Eastern India, especially in West Bengal, the birthday of goddess Saraswati is celebrated with great piety and enthusiasm. This day occurs during Vasant Panchami. It is believed that goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of speech, wisdom and learning. The other attributes that sets her aside is purity and beauty that can be seen by her white dress and a white swan next to her. She has four hands each hand holding a Veena (musical instrument), scriptures, garland of flowers, etc. No jewelry or ornaments are usually worn, because she is self illuminating. In Hinduism Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. She is the consort of Brahma. Saraswati is considered to be the "mother of the Vedas". The name Saraswati came from "Saras" (meaning "flow") and "Wati" (meaning "a woman"). So, Saraswati is symbol of knowledge. She is known as a guardian deity in Buddhism who upholds the teachings of Gautama Buddha by offering protection and assistance to devotees. In East Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa; Saraswati is considered to be a daughter of Durga along with her sister Lakshmi and her brothers Ganesha and Karthikeya.

One of the most valued traditions for Bengalis is the ritual of Haathey Khhoree. This is an initiation ceremony where he or she holds a pen for the first time. An elder or a priest holds the child and guides its hand to write to write the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet -- Om. In many other places in India elders, especially grandmothers make a pentagram or Saraswati-sign with honey on the tongue of newborns to invoke the blessing

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of speech. In Bengal, it is customary of girls to wear the light orange shade called Basonti on the Saraswati Puja Day.

Also, on that day, Bengalis are officially allowed to eat one of their most favorite fruit, kool, a plum like berry. During this time, the kools which get the time to ripen properly by now, flood the markets and are one of the most sought after fruits of the time. As the weather becomes warmer, the trees shed off their last berries and go into hibernation for the next spring to arrive. The children in Bengal look forward to the arrival of this festival. The schools are closed, but the kids have the opportunity to learn about the Indian culture of venerating Mother Saraswati as the symbol of knowledge and pursuit of education. BAGC arranges and encourages participation of the community in various cultural and religious activities, especially Banga Sanskriti Day, Children's day, Picnic, Durga Puja and Kali puja.

BAGC takes part in India’s Independence Day Parade. BAGC stays in touch with the dynamic culture in India in many ways such as bringing performing artists from India and screenings of recent Bengali Films.

Cultural Program:

2011, Cultural Event, Inaugural Dance "Vande MaTaram" Dancers: Reshmee Dhor-chowdhury. Lia Nandi, Tia Dasgupta & Ankita Dct+c Choreography: Reemlee Dhorchowdhury

Saraswati Puja Cultural Program Master of Ceremony: Aniket Biswas & Sujata De Lights: Debabrata Pal & Rubal Dosgupta Sound: Amit Das & Benny

"Saraswati Bandana" Dancers: Lia Nandi, Tla Dasgupta, Drishti Chaudht, Jry & Reshmee Dhorchowdhury Choreography: Reemlee Dhorchowdhury

"Choir" Singers: Alo Chakroborty, Arjun Pal, Ayan Das, bivvc, Gaurav Pal, Malabi Mukherjee, Meghna Dasgupta, Nandini, Maiti, Sharon Dhali & Trish« Mandai Keyboard: Subhashish Mukherjee Harmonium: Rubal Dasgupta

"East Vs West Musical" Narrators: Darshan Chakrabarti, Praneet Chakroborty

East Group Dristi Chaudhuri, Panchali Majumdar, Ananya Bhattacharya & Ankita Datta

West Group Aditya Dewanjee, Sid Bcsu & Reshmee Dhorchowdhury

Fusion Group Lia Nandi & Tia Dasgupta

Tin Dana Dance Ritika Datta, RonakChaudhuri, Devanshi Chokrabarti, Ayona Ghosh, Ayush Ghosh, Ruhika Nandy, $iddharth Nandy, Projit Bose, RanoBagchi, Abhita Datta, Soham Sarkar, Satwika Paul& Anushko Chakroborty

Sholo Ana Mon Dance Banisree Ch(lkraborty, Serene Reshmi Bose, Shayoni Bose, Sharonee Datta, Shonkojeet Majumdar & Anusha Das

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Dialogue English: Abhirup BanerJee Bengali: Purobi Majumdar

Idea Abhirup Bonerjee & Reemlee Dhorchowdhury Choreography & Direction Reemlee Dhorchowdhury "Bhool Raasta" A skit written by Badal Sircar Cast: Tandra Das & Subhasis Das "Sorshe" (The Mustard Seed) A hilarious skit based on a story by Sanjib Chattopadhyay Cast Sutradhar Prakash Babu Mahamaya Urmila Prashanta Putul Sat yen Babu

Subhasis Das Soumendu Bhattacharya Arpana Bhattacharya Tandra Das Rana Ray Ashavari Reeti Bhattacharya Debiprasad Palit

Production Staff Script Adaptation: Soumendu Bhattacharya, Arpana Bhattacharya, Subhasis Das Direction: Subhasis Das Production: Dipan Ray Acknowledgment: Saberee Raka Bhattacharya Photographs and Press release by: Asian Media USA Suresh Bodiwala Chairman Asian Media USA Bus: (847) 679-8583 Fax: (847) 679-5336 Cell: (847)420-4789

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by: asian media usa 02/12/2011) bengali association of ... · pdf filebengali association of...

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