Sandhi Puja - Click on Poster to enlarge

Shashti

The sixth day after the new moon. Today the invocation will begin... a precedent set byLord Ram. He was the first mortal to have invoked the Devi waking her from the atumnal sleep - akaal bodhon...untimely awakening.

Today all mothers will fast and pray to Shasti - the maternal aspect of the Devi.

Today is a day of fasting... light and crisp luchi with cauliflower and potatoe dalna, chane ki dal with fried bits of coconut and raisins.

Eat light today. Eat simple. Finish with a rice paish ... fragrant gobindobhog grains in lightly sweetened milk that has been thickened to creamy texture over a slow fire.
Raisins, cardamom powder and bay leaves add to the aroma.

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Mantras and Food

Panchami 4th October 08: the fifth day after the newmoon - the best day to eat and make merry. The images have arrived but remain behind a veil.

Anandomela: men and women; old and young; slave over hot stoves and display their culinary skills.

Paromita's mangshor cutlet - crisp on the outside and a juicy meaty tenderness within.

Perfection: Dilip Kaku's Sandesh served on banana leaf platters.

Mukherjee Dida's Radhaballabi stack ... paper thin and transparent delicately flavoured with asafoetida and stuffed with dal

Aloo dum - potatoes with cumin and coriander seeds simmered on a slow fire.

And her famous Gokul Pithe ... she smiles but will not give out the recipe.

Chingri and rice

Gopa's fish cutlets: a spicy carp filling and an outer coat of golden mashed potatoes.

Nandini di in action ... sandesh, maacher chop, mangshor cutlet... the porotha and kosha mangsho remains just out of the camera range.

Proma's spicy baby potatoes with squeeze of lemon, a sprinkling of coriander and crisp sev ...

Ashtami

Sri Sri Durga Sharanam

Shudhi:
Nomo Vishnu, Nomo Vishnu, Nomo Vishnu
Nomo Apobitro, Pobitroba, Shorbo Bosthang Gotho-ho Piba
Jah Shoret Pundori Kakhang Shobha-jhyo-bhontarang Suchih.
Nomo Madhobo Madhobo Baachi, Madhobo Madhobo Hridi
Smaranti Shad hobo Shorbey Shorbo-karjeshu Madhobom
Nomo Shonkho Chokro Dhorong Vishnung Dvi Bhujang Pito-bashonam Prarombhe Kormonang Biproh Pundorikong Smare Dharim.

Anjali 1.
Nomo, Ayurdehi Joshodehi Bhagyong Bhagwati Dehimey
Putrandehi Dhonongdehi Shorbaan Kamang-scho Dehimey
Nomo Bhogoboti Bhoyo-chheydey Bhobotarini Kamodey
Shankari Kaushiki Tvanghee Kattayani Nomostutey
Nomo Prochondey Putro-dey Dit-tvang Shupritey Shuro-na-i-key
Kulo-dwo-kore Devi Joyong Dehi Nomostutey
Esho Shochondono Gondho Pushpanjoli
Shayu-dho-bahono Poribaar Shohito, Sri Sri Bhogoboti Durga-oi Nomo

Anjali2.
Nomo Durgot-tarini Durgey Tvang Shorba Shubho Nibarini Dhoromartho Mok-khodey Devi Nityang-mey Boroda Bhobo
Nomo Durgey Durgey Moha-bhagey Traahimang Shonkoro-priyey Mohisho-sring Modon Mot-tey Pronoto-hoshmi Proshidomey
Nomo Shorbaa Baadha Prosho-monong Troi-Iokyo-sha Khilesh-shori
Ebom Ebo Tvo-ya Ka~o Mosh-mod Boiri Binashanong
Esho Shochondono Billo-patran-nito Pushpanjoli
Shayu-dho-bahono Poribaar Shohito, Sri Sri Bhogoboti Durga-oi Nomo

Anjali3.
Nomo, Horo Paapong, Horo Kley-shong, Horo Shokong, Horae Shubhom Horo Rogo, Horo Kshobhong, Horo Maari, Horo Priyey
Nomo Kali Kali MohaKaIi Kalikey Paapohaarini
Dhoromartho Mok-khodey Devi Narayani Nomostutey
Nomo Ayur-do-da-tumey Kali Putrandehi Shoda Shibey
Dhonong Dehi Moha-mayey Noroshinghi Josho-momo
Nomo Mohish-agni Mohamayey Chamundo MundomaIini
Ayur arogyo Bijo-yong Dehi Devi Nomostutey
Esho Shochondono Gondho Pushpanjoli
Shayu-dho-bahono Poribaar Shohito, Sri Sri Bhogoboti Durga-oi Nomo

Prarthonaa:

Nomo, Montro Hinong, Kriya Hinong, Bhokti Hinong, Shureshori
Joth Puji-thong Moyadevi Poripunong Toda-stume
Nomo Grohitung Sharodi-pujang Mortho Mondolo Shong-sthitham Chandike Tvang Nomaa-myodo Shoyo-mor-ghyong Pro-gri-hyo-taam Nomo Ka-ye-no Monosha Baacha Totto Nan-nyo Gotir-no-momo
Onto-scha-reno Bhutanang Droshti Tvang Poromeshori

Pronaam:
Shorbo-mongolo Mongoley Shibey Shorobartho Shaadhikey Shoron-ney Trombukey Gauri Narayani Nomostutey
Srishthi Stithi Binasha-nang Shakti-bhutey Shonatoni
Gunasroy Gunomoyey Narayani Nomostutey
Shorona-gotho Deenarto Poritraney Porayoney
Shorbo Shyarthey Horey Devi Narayani Nomostutey

Saptami

Sri Sri Durga Sharanam

Shudhi:
Nomo Vishnu, Nomo Vishnu, Nomo Vishnu
Nomo Apobitro, Pobitroba, Shorbo Bosthang Gotho-ho Piba
Jah Shoret Pundori Kakhang Shobha-jhyo-bhontarang Suchih.


Nomo Madhobo Madhobo Baachi, Madhobo Madhobo Hridi
Smaranti Shadhobo Shorbey Shorbo-karjeshu Madhobom
Nomo Shonkho Chokro Dhorong Vishnung Dvi Bhujang Pito-bashonam
Prarombhe Kormonang Biproh Pundorikong Smare Dharim.

Anjali 1:
Nomo Ayurdehi Joshodehi Bhagyong Bhagwati Dehimey Putrandehi Dhonongdehi Shorbaan Kamang-scho Dehimey
Nomo Bhogoboti Bhoyo-chheydey Bhobotarini Kamodey Shankari Kaushiki Tvanghee Kattayani Nomostutey

Esho Shochondono Gondho Pushpanjoli Shayu-dho-bahano Paribaar Shohito
Sri Sri Bhogoboti Durga-oi Nomo ....

Anjali 2.:
Nomo Durgot-tarini Durgey Tvang Shorba Shubho Nibarini Dhoromartho Mok-khodey Devi Nity-ang-mey Boroda Bhobo
Nomo Durgey Durgey Moha-bhagey Traahimang Shonkoro-priyey Mohisho-sring Modon Mot-tey Pronoto-hoshmi Proshidomey

Esho Shochondono Billo-patran-nito Pushpanjoli Shayu-dho-bahono Poribaar Shohito
Sri Sri Bhogoboti Durga-oi Nomo




Anjali 3.
Nomo Horo Paapong, Horo Kley-shong, Horo Shokong, Horaa Shubhom
Horo Rogo, Horo Kshobhong, Horo Maari, Horo Priyey
Nomo Kali Kali MohaKali Kalikey Paapohaarini
Dhoromartho Mok-khodey Devi Narayani Nomostutey
Nomo Ayur-do-da-tumey Kali Putrandehi Shoda Shibey
Dhonong Dehi Moha-mayey Noroshinghi Josho-momo
Prarthonaa:
Esho Shochondono Gondho Pushpanjoli
Shayu-dho-bahono Poribaar Shohito
Sri Sri Bhogoboti Durga-oi Nomo
Nomo, Montro Hinong, Kriya Hinong, Bhokti Hinong, Shureshori
Joth Puji-thong Moyadevi Poripurno Todo-stume
Nomo Grohitung Sharodi-pujang Mortho Mondolo Shong-sthitham
Chandike Tvang Nomaa-myodo Shoyo-mor-ghyong Pro-gri-hyo-taam
Nomo Ka-ye-no Monosha Baacha Totto Nan-nyo Gotir-no-momo
Onto-scha-reno Bhutanang Droshti Tvang Poromeshori
Shorbo-mongolo Mongoley Shibey Shorobartho Shaadhikey Shoron-ney Trombukey Gauri Narayani Nomostutey
Srishthi Stithi Binasha-nang Shakti-bhutey Shonatoni
Gunasroy Gunomoyey Narayani Nomostutey

Narayani Nomostutey