Manbazar Durgapuja: Subarna Banik Durgamela

Manbazar Subarna Banik Durgamela 2014

Gate view 2014

Durga Pratima 2014

Durga 2014

Mahastami video 2014

Gate view 2013

Manbazar Subarna Banik Durga temple: Manbazar is the old town eastern side of the district Purulia.The name Manbazar was varied from Manbhum in earlier. The cast history of Manbazar is varied form with mix culture of people from earlier to present. Although it is the dominated place of Mahato,Kheriya, Bauri , upper cast of hindu society lives here from very old time. Hence different types of hindu festivals has been performing here from earlier time to now. Durgapuja is the great one in hindu festivals.

Mandir is located at the center point of Manbazar town (chak bazar).Most of the members of this group of community reside at Manbazar Poddarpara. The Subarna Banik Committee had been formed since the time Badyanath Dutta,Umesh Chandra Dutta and Jugal Dutta. They are the founder of Manbazar Subarna Banik Durgapuja. Beginning year of their worship was in Bengali 1326, years back from present time.During their time Nilmadhab Sen,Gokul Sen, Nibaran Sen were also the committee member. On that time main priest of the temple were Amritlal Mukherjee and his assistant Golak Bihari, Rambishnu Mukherjee the elder son of Amritlal and assistant was brother-in-law Jagannath Acharya.Joydev Mukherjee and his son Sourav

Mukharjee are now inheritor and acting priest of that Subarna Banik Durga temple. They have a committee. Anandamoy Sen is the secretary of this committee present time. Anandamoy Sen son of Ambujaksha Sen is one of the inheritors of Manbazar Subarna Banik families. Banik committee’s functions are diversified and active. They have also formed a parallel committee named ‘Subarna Banik Kalyan Samiti’. Kalyan Samiti’s main objectives are to help needless, penny less poor local people without separating their cast and category. If necessary, outer people of their cast may get help from them. Kalyan Samiti distributes food and dress to the poor people on the day of Astami worship every year. By this work their consideration is all should be equal on the day of Astami irrespective of their poverty, helplessness. It is very good thinking,I also praise them for it.

Activities : ‘Dhaki’ (drum) competition is held on the night of ‘Nabami’ in front of the Goddess Durga every year and winners are ranked 1^st,2^nd and 3^rd. They all get prize with certificate and all other participants get honor from them. Alpana competition also done here at the beginning night of Bellibaran. The worship place is also opened today with cutting red tape by an honorable person as like as B.D.O (from Block),O.C. (from police station), Doctor, Journalist etc.

Manbazar Subarna Banik Durga temple follows the rituals and time table of Patharmohra Durga temple. All the schedule programs are done by the command of Rajbar from the beginning day to end. On the days ‘Saptami’ and ‘Dashami’ when Rajbari ‘Dola’ (Nabapatrika’ of the Goddeess Durga ) passed from Chakbazar towards Manbazar Thakurpukur (Koniyabandh), they start their journey for ‘Koipukur’ for the purpose of ‘Nabapatrika’ the Goddess Durga’s ‘Agamani’ (awakening/bath), ‘Bisarjan’ (Immersion) worship. On the day Astami worship is done two times ,Astami puja (worship) for 1-1.30 hour and Sandhi puja for approximate 40-45 minitus.

Budget of this year Puja is approximate one lakh this year. They have few stall and immovable properties for the worship of the Goddess Durga, these are the source of their puja budget every year. The committee is very active.They manage and keep all records tactfully .More than 54 years back their puja budget was only Rs.1963.26 it is found from old records. Of them their planning was for Pratima (Icon of the deity of Goddess Durga ) Rs.338.05, worship cost Rs.560.19, washing Rs.44.88, electric Rs.73.65, sound (drummer) Rs.188.00, ‘Brahman seba’ (lunch) Rs.188.11 and ‘Narayan seba’ (for all) Rs.291.28 total cost is Rs.1963.26. Data source from the Secretary Anandamoy Sen,Manbazar Subarna Banik Durgapuja Committee.Secretary is very knowledgefull and keep all records tactfully.

In Bengali year 1415, a competition of all Durga worship center was done in our locality,Subarna Banik Durga worship center was positioned 1^st ,2^nd Kundu Durga worship center and 3^rd was Patharmohra Durgamela. Selection was made by the judgment of local B.D.O, O.C from Manbazar P.S, B.M.H.O of Manbazar Rural Hospital and a Journalist .Decision was made on the basis of Pratima (Icon), infrastructure of worship center and the surrounding atmosphere of worship area including all kinds of First-aid availability .

Theme: Durgapuja theme of this year is planned propagation of Adra-Jharagram Rail path. By the word of Puja committee secretary Anandamoy Sen, this planning has been taken in consultation with other puja committee organizers. They have said tabloo is the most attractive part of this theme to be tour from Adra to Jharagram during these puja days. In addition to it, banners, play cards, statues are also adhesive to this theme.