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