, and the fragrance of dhuna (incense) led them on a quest to find a piece of home in Hamburg.){kind=link}
By Aparmita Das
Jayasmita Bhattacharjee, an architect and product designer, and her husband, Debayan Bhattacharya, a PhD scholar, share a common origin rooted in Shillong, Meghalaya; yet, their higher education led them to embark on a new chapter of their lives in Hamburg, Germany, far from the embrace of their beloved homeland.
As Bengalis, Durga Puja is more than just a festival to them – an annual celebration of homecoming and a time to reunite with friends and family.
However, the distance from their roots made the festive season feel somewhat incomplete, as Jayasmita explained, “Durga Puja is the favourite time of the year for any Bengali. It is more than just a festivity. It is the joy of homecoming and coming together of friends and family.” Living in a foreign land meant being away from family for an extended period, but the “sorrow of missing Pujo hits differently,” she added.
Their yearning for the familiar customs, sounds of dhak (traditional Bengali drum), and the fragrance of dhuna (incense) led them on a quest to find a piece of home in Hamburg. Their search for Durga Puja celebrations in the city began with inquiries among friends and acquaintances, and it did not take them long to stumble upon a hidden gem.
They discovered the only Durga Puja celebration in Hamburg, organised by a club of 70 families. For Jayasmita and Debayan, stepping into this intimate “Pujo” gathering was like stepping into a piece of their own world. The sound of their mother tongue, the resonance of dhak, and the scent of dhuna made them feel closer to their home. To their delight, they even partook in a traditional prasad meal, with rice and “ghet” (mixed vegetable), alongside a delectable serving of “payesh” (pudding made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice).
One of the highlights of their “Pujo” celebration was Ashtami, the eighth day of the festival. This year, Jayasmita and Debayan decided to extend the joy of the festival to their German friends. Their friends were fascinated by the vibrant colours, the intricate decorations, and the grandeur of the idols. They also participated in the Pushpanjali ritual, offering flowers to the goddess.
Debayan recalled the experience with a smile, “Our German friends were more than amused by the colour, the decor, and the grandeur of the idols. They even gave Pushpanjali with us.”
Through this unique celebration, Jayasmita and Debayan discovered that missing Pujo did not have to be a painful experience. In a foreign land, they had found new friends who embraced their culture and made them feel at home, Shillong.
“Missing Pujo did not feel so bad this year since we found new friends who are like our new family,” Jayasmita said, her voice brimming with gratitude and happiness. Durga Puja in Hamburg for them became more than a cultural event; it became a bridge that connected two worlds.