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SABORNO DURGA PUJA
The family of Saborno Chowdhury hailed from Hali of Naihati and later settled in Birati and finally migrated to Barisha in Calcutta. Pratapadita was an able ruler of Bengal then but he turned out to be very proud and corrupted. Basanta Ray was

his uncle, who affectionately brought up both Pratap and Lakshmikanta. He gave them lessons to run zamindari and other important administrative inputs. Lakshmikanta grew up to join the administration at Jassore and proved a worthy ruler. Jealous Pratapaditya murdered his uncle near Budge Budge to claim himself to independent. Disheartened and aggrieved Lakshmikanta resigned from the royal service and returned to Kalighat. Mansingh, the powerful Mughal general was sent to Bengal. He was aware of Pratapaditya's power and knew it was not easy to defeat him in warfare. Mansingh was a disciple of saint Kamdev Brahmachari (Lakshmi's father) who blessed him to punish Pratapaditya. Mansingh defeated Pratap and requested Lakshmikanta to ascend the throne. But Lakshmi refused. Bengal fell into the hands of Mansingh. Lakshmikanta Ray Mazumdar and his associates got large acres of land (eight parganas) as gurudakshina from Mansingh. He also made Lakshmikanta 'Jaigirdaar' in 1608.Lakshmikanta Ray Mazumdar was the famous zamindar of the Ray Mazumdars.

They were known as the Ray Mazumdars before they got the 'Choudhury' title and their 'gotro' was Saborno.Thus Durgapuja held by them was known as 'Barisha Saborno Ray Choudhury Durgotsav'. Older than Calcutta, their household Durga puja was said to have started since 1610 by Lakshmikanta Ray Mazumdar. They had seven durga pujas in their family, six at Barisha and another at their Birati Bari.

Under the 'Aath Chala'(the courtyard with eight pillars and a roof top and with no walls), Calcutta, Sutanuti and Govindapur were sold to East India Company at an amount of Rs.1,300. The legal document has the signatures of Roop Chand Mazumdar and Manohar Mazumdar and Charles Iyer, Job Charnock's son-in-law. Antony Kobiyal's grandfather was also present as one of the witnesses.The flavour of a zamindar household puja can be felt even today if one wishes to visit the Chowdhurys of the Saborno family during the Durga puja.

The Durga Puja of the Saborno household is famous because of its traditional rituals and great devotional fervor. The wooden frame work of the Durga idol still exists along with the three 'Chalchitra' (the intricately designed background). The Saborno family has no rituals of 'Nilkontho'. But there was a ritual of Kumari Puja at that time.

The puja at Baro bari and Birati Bari performed Kumari Puja. Sacrifice of buffalos and goats are an existing ritual in the family. Besides, 'chalkumro', sugarcane, mashbhokto (combination of rice, banana, cloves and ghee) are also offered for sacrifice. The devi is worshipped in her 'Chamunda' form during 'Sandhi Puja'. End of Ashtami and the beginning of Nabami is the time for

Sandhi Puja.It was at this moment Devi Durga took the form of Devi Chamunda to kill the Mahishasura (the Buffalo Demon ). On Dashami immersion of the Goddess Durga takes place in babughat. Before the immersion a ritual is performed. The mirror image of the devi is seen in a tub full of water which is placed in front of the deity. Years back immersion of the Goddess was done in Tallygunge's Karunamayi. After the immersion the purohit (priest) visits all the sariks (nuclear families) of the Roy Chowdhury family to sprinkle 'Shantir Jal' (holy water).

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