PUJA SPECIAL – River Cruise Tour :
By Partha Pratim Majumder
Destination
: The Ganga
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| One River Cruise Out Of The Two |
“Experience Bengal”’s Durga Puja : A Rivercruise Way
The caption this year
floated by Deptt. of Tourism, Govt. of
West Bengal & West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDCL) was “EXPERIENCE BENGAL - THE SWEETEST PART OF INDIA”.
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| Way To Jetty |
There is hardly any doubt
asto mere words can not describe what Puja means to Bengal and the Bengalees.
It is perhaps the convergence of all quintessential components of life like :
·
Emotions
·
Culture
·
The cult
of Goddess
·
The warmth
of being together
·
The joy
of celebrations
·
The pride
of artistic expression in search of
variety and uniqueness and
·
Finally
the love of life
Therefore, Durga Puja is
much more by several notches than just worship …… that’s why be it Kolkata or the whole of West Bengal, so many
thousands of pandals with amazing idols, glitz of illumination and loud beating
of drums (Dhaaker Awaaz) greet so many millions of puja revelers in new dress
and shoes, who joyfully roar to say - “Been there – Seen that”.
With this tradition of a
typical carnival time, a slice monotony looms
large in our mind to question – “Can’t we think beyond and celebrate in an innovative
way? Can’t we go back to the soulful river or Maa Ganga for few
hours ?
Yes, we can – thankfully by
holding the hands of West Bengal Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTDCL).
It has been organizing
several “Puja Special Package Tours” every year since long – out of the lot,
one model i.e “River Cruise Tours” stands out of the crowd.
This cruise tour is made for a crowd that loves to be somewhere far from the madding crowd ........ more in the aura of slow pace of life that believes things to be enjoyed with its subtlety and simplicity like the riverside buildings ....... standing aloft for so long
WBTDCL realizes this towards implementation
River Cruise Tours :
Every year, subject to date finalization,
such tours take place on :
ü Mahalaya
Day for Tarpan – Morning Trip
ü Shubha
Saptami / Shubha Astami / Shubha Navami - Morning Trip & Evening Trip
ü Shubha
Bijoya Dashami – Immersion Trip
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| Baul Song |
Experience Bengal - A Lifetime Experience :
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| M.V Sarbamangala - Upperdeck |
·
On 22nd October (Shubha
Navami), I, as a first timer, was on
board with more than 100 tourists in its evening trip (6pm to 9pm) from New
Babughat Jetty to Belur Math and back
·
A special gate @ New Babughat Jetty
was set up to welcome the tourist traffic carrying tickets (either online or
offline). Once checked by WBTDC Officials, you are given a Souvenir Bag with
several booklets on tourism in WB and a token gift
·
There were two large and well
illuminated vessels bound together (M.V.Sarvajaya & M.V.Sarbamangala) ,
hosting the event of cruising along the river while enjoying the rituals of
exclusive Durgapuja on board with memorable musical soiree and an exotic Bengali
cuisine to satisfy the tourists’ taste-buds
·
On entering the abode of Goddess on
the riverbed, we all had the first but divine eye contact with “Maa Durga” , the
idol in traditional attire with her
family in the lower deck of the 1st vessel . The priest and dhaki
were found to be attached and busy
in rituals
 |
| Maa Durga @ The Vessel |
·
The musical function was arranged on the upper deck of the 2nd
vessel, whereas the audience was found sitting having catering arrangement made
on the upper deck of both the vessels
·
Just at 6pm, both the vessels tied
together started its journey amidst chanting
of mantra and sound of drums (Dhaker
Bajna). While leaving the jetty and listening to the Baul songs of Birbhum , the crowd had the first sip of its fruit juice
as “Welcome Drink”, accompanied a fistful of starter items. Tea followed closely.
 |
| Ms.Moumita, The Anchor |
·
Ms. Moumita of “Akaash Aaath (8)” appeared
as anchor and welcomed all the guests heartily , recited couple of Bengali poetry
and then introduced Ms. Bandita Sarkar with her orchestra for an entertaining performance
touching all taste points from Agamani to Rabindra Sangeet to Old Bengali
Melodies to Hindi Foot Tapping Numbers of old & present time
·
Suddenly Moumita and all others spotted
Mr. Arindam Ganguly, the famous iconic singer
cum “Shreeman Hansaraaj” famed actor of
Bengali Film Industry in the audience. He was present with Ms. Kheali Dastidar
Ganguly , his wife and a team of his friends to enjoy the evening.
·
He, on a request for rendition of a
few liner song of his choice, charted out one of the ever favourite Bengali
folk song on “Ganga river” , originally sung by Late Nirmalendu Chowdhury, (the
maestro of folk music of Bengal) in the film named “Ganga” in sixties , directed
by Late Rajen Tarafdar
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| Mr. Arindam Ganguly |
·
It (“Ammai dubaili re amaai bhasaili re”) was a superb rendition without
any accompaniment and through the use of a highly prepared voice quality , practiced
from his childhood, (when he was Master
Arindam). His rendition on the river and remembering the river was truly an out
of the world experience . Arindam mesmerized all to take the atmosphere to a
different level
·
Thank you Arindam for showing your rare
virtue of not having ego , which all of us must look at and follow. It was a sudden
return gift from the guests to WBTDCL
for such awesome journey, arranged by them
·
Our cruise navigated through the
darkness gently in between the two lighted borders of the river …. crossed
Howrah Bridge underneath … Nimtalla Ghat … Shova Bazar Ghat …. Kashipur Ghat… and
finally close to Belur Math Ghat at about 7pm , when we could hear the chanting
of devotional songs during “ Sandhyarati” going on
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| Howrah Bridge at night |
·
Now, on the way back………. We touched
upon all the timeless points of Ganga and its riverside civilization. The river has been seeing
celebration of life called “Durgotsav or Sarodotsov” for centuries as silent
observer and finally the close down by the event “Immersion”
·
At about 8.30pm, we were served Dinner
, having the following items on the menucard :
o
Salad
o
Rice & Luchi
o
Daal
o
Veg. Curry
o
Chicken Curry
o
Bhetki Paturi
o
Chaatney
o
Papad
o
Sweet Dish – Sandesh,
Rossogolla,Gulabjamun and Icecream
o
Paan & Paan Masala
·
At 9pm, you are back to the point
of commencement of the journey i.e New Babughat Jetty for departure to own
destination
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| Upper Deck - It's light everywhere |
2016 booking : Where , How and When ?
Booking Office : Tourist
Centre, 3/2, B.B.D Bag (E), Kolkata-7000 01 (P) 033-2248-8271 /2243-6440
(F) 2248-5168
- Pocket Pinch : As per price
fixed before booking is open next year / This year it was @ Rs.1300/- for
the morning tour and Rs.1500/- for the evening tour
- Contact Person heading
this program : G.M (Operations)
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| Belur Math at night from the vessel |
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