From Rituals To Reels: Celebrating Durga Puja Through The Lens Of Indian Cinema

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It's celebration mode in India primarily in places like West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and other parts of Eastern India. Durga Puja, a major Hindu festival that honours the goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura, symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated for a period of ten days of which the last five are considered the most significant. This puja is performed at all homes and in public with beautifully decorated stages known as 'pandals with idols of Durga and her children. Here devotees pray, do their rituals, gather for music and cultural events.

So, here's a shout out to all movie buffs and cinephiles, did you know that the festival of Durga Puja has influenced Indian Cinema to a great extent. Here's a look at some of the movies from Bengal and Bollywood that has captured the essence of Durga Puja on the screens -

Movies that screened Durga Puja

Pather Panchali, 1955 - This symbolic movie is directed by the legendary Oscar winning director Satyajit Ray. The story revolves around a tragedy that strikes a family as the protagonist's elder sister Durga dies right after the Durga Puja celebration in the village.

Devi, 1960 - Another masterpiece by Satyajit Ray, the story is set against the backdrop of Durga Puja. A story of Devi, who gains umpteen devotees as her father-in-law believes she has divine powers and is a reincarnation of goddess Durga. This inturn creates a moral and psychological crisis around the village.

Antony Firingee, 1967 - When a Christian man dares to organize Durga Puja in his home, hell breaks loose when religious fanatics burnt down his house, his wife gets badly injured in the fire. A movie that talks about the need for religious unity and harmony with other communities that gather to celebrate Durga Puja.

Utsab, 2000 - The film directed by noted filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh focuses on familial relationships during the celebration of Durga Puja. The story is about the reunion of a Bengali family who share and resolve their resentments and hidden emotions during the rituals and traditions of the Durga Puja celebrations that is highlighted quite beautifully in the movie.

Parineeta, 2005 - Parineeta starts with an opening scene of Durga Puja. The story revolves around the budding friendship of Lolita and Shekhar that turns into love. As Shekhar performs the 'dhunuchi' dance, a traditional dance performed in front of the Durga idol to the throbbing beats of the 'dhak' (a large drum that is hung around the neck and played with two thin sticks), Lolita picks up burnt coconut shells out of concern.

Kahaani, 2012 - The protagonist, a pregnant lady, is searching for her husband at the backdrop of the Durga Puja festival. Durga Puja has been portrayed in such a thrilling and beautiful way, it becomes an integral part of the movie. The protagonist's entry in the story, on reaching Kolkata happens when pandals are being put up for the festival along with the music of 'dhak' and the traditional sounds of chanting of hymns.

Songs that screened Durga Puja

Devdas, 2002 - Towards the second half of the movie, the movie showcases the celebration of Durga Puja in the married household of Paro where she dances along with Chandramukhi amidst extravagant festivities. The ornate decorations, costumes and especially the duo-dance of the leading ladies is something to look out for.

Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, 2023 - The song from Devdas is reprised here in which the male lead Rocky dances gracefully to the song in the backdrop of the goddess Durga. There is another song that captures the Durga Puja celebrations beautifully in the background. As the leads Rocky and Rani dance in red along with many others, the vibrant music and the extravagant set along with the idol of goddess Durga is a feast to the eyes.

The beautiful Durga Puja festival concludes on the day of Vijaya Dashami, that's when the idols are immersed in water in the River Ganga, signifying Durga's return to her divine home and people celebrate this with joy, bidding her farewell until her return next year. In the movie Kahaani as well the ending scene focuses on the day of Vijayadashami making it pretty symbolic.

So this Durga Puja festival, if you are digging up for some good movies to watch do think of adding one or some of this in your playlist.