Puja Mythology - Click to enlarge

Pujo is Coming - Click to enlarge

The Ekchala with all idols set against a single reed mat.

The Company Puja

1757: The Battle of Plassey delivered the Bengali from the hands of the Siraj-ud-daulah into those of Clive. The frying pan and the fire had yet to be identified but the Hindus rejoiced in the hope of a new beginning.

The bounty that had suddenly been heaped upon them left the British astounded. A thanksgiving was in order. But Siraj-ud-daulah had left not one church standing in Bengal.

‘Lay your offerings at the feet of my goddess,’ said his money lender. Nobo Krishna Deb was a shrewd man.

Clive and his officers arrived at Shobha Bazaar to attend the Deb family’s Durga Puja. It came to be known as the Company Puja.

It set a precedent amongst the upcoming merchant class. The number of Britishers attending added to their social prestige.


Europeans being Entertained by William Prinsep, of the Palmer & Co. Calcutta

Flowering time in Rajasthan

There was once a time when it was the flowers that decided the borders of kingdoms. Even the mighty had to bow before the will of nature.

Where the amla put forward its greeny-gold blossoms the land belonged to ancient Mewar.

But where the babool, the local kikar, raised its thorny branches, with its bright yellow flowers round and soft as little balls of cotton set amidst its tiny leaves, the land was most certainly claimed by death itself...the ancient kingdom of Maroo or Marwar.

As the old saying goes:

Aonla Aonla Mewar
Babool Babool Marwar

What is growing amongst the weeds this season?

Toxic Blooms