Celebrated at the beginning of Navratri, Durga Puja upholds the spirit of the divine feminine and is said to be held to commemorate the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. This grand festival has always heralded the warm coming together of family and friends, celebrating the essence of good over evil. Part of the history of ancient India, it is marked by joyful rituals including songs and dances, fasting and sumptuous feasts, pujas and religious gatherings across the country.
This year, as the pandemic sweeps the world, what can you do to keep the spirit of the Puja alive— even as you put safety first? It’s time to take a step back and redefine our celebratory practices, ensuring that health takes centre stage.
Pandal-hopping, the virtual way
Traditionally, Puja pandals are an integral part of the festivities in many Indian cities, with pandal-hopping being the accepted highlight of the evening. An array of delicious delicacies can be relished while exploring the gaily decorated pandals.
This year, however, celebrating with facemasks and social distancing will be the safer way to go.
Already festival organisers have factored in safety norms and made preparations for drive-through or virtual pandal-hopping, where people can take part in the melee, albeit from the security of their vehicles.
Sanitiser tunnels are being planned and volunteers are on call to ensure that there is no overcrowding at stalls. Devotees are taking to social media to share pictures, wishes, and greetings.
Organise online bhajans
Without soulful bhajans, kirtan and aarti, Durga Puja loses its shine. But there’s nothing to stop you from going virtual. Organise a Zoom call, get all your relatives and friends together, and take your bhajans online. The more, the merrier! Live screening on YouTube can also bring everyone together virtually, if not in person.
Deck up the Puja at home
To welcome Durga into your home, deep-clean your Pooja room and make it sparkle. You can clean up all the oil and grime, and give all your brassware and silverware a lovely shine. Light scented incense sticks and decorate the room with floral garlands to create the sacred ambience. Once your Puja is ready, you can let the festivities begin.
Decorate the entrance
Garlands of fresh flowers at the doorstep are the traditional way to let the world know that you’re celebrating. Allow the sweet smell of jasmine, roses, and marigolds to assail the senses right at the entrance of your home, and set the tone for your Puja rituals.
A fresh coat of paint and some new upholstery
If you feel that your walls look tired, maybe it’s time to give them a fresh coat of paint. Focus your attention on one wall and use textured paint, metallic paint, stucco, or just a bold solid colour to make it stand out and grab attention. While you’re at it, your upholstery could do with a pick me up as well.
Choose colours on the same side of the spectrum for an evenly balanced, complementary theme.
Decorate with lights
No festival is ever complete without pretty lighting. Light terracotta diyas, candles in colourful votive holders, and brass lamps. String up some twinkling fairy lights across the windows, decorate the floor with beautiful rangolis, and get ready to usher in your Durga Puja celebrations with a bang!
Go green
When we’re talking about safe festive celebrations, it’s important to consider the safety of the environment too. Very often, the Durga idols that are immersed at the end of the nine-day festivities are made using toxic paints which pollute the water bodies, killing aquatic plants and animals. Spare a thought for the environment and opt for biodegradable idols that will not harm our lakes and rivers. They may not look quite as colourful, but they will surely help to save our planet.
This festive season, health and safety are going to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. But being safe doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, so go ahead and explore our tips for a memorable festive season ahead.
This article is contributed by Dipti Das, AVP-Design, HomeLane.com.
(The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of RoofandFloor)