By: Barnali Bose ( Associate Editor-ICN Group )
Kartik puja is celebrated with great exuberance and gaiety in Chinsurah and Bansberia in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.
Last friday,the 17 th of November, early morning,I was awakened by the sound of excited voices. Peals of laughter intercepted by the blowing of conch shells,made me quickly glance out of the window.
The scene that met my eyes left me smiling, as the significance of the day dawned upon me. I saw the bashful, newly married lady next door, clutching an idol of kartik in her arms and ushering him into her house.Her mother-in-law, beaming with joy followed her.
Kartik, son of lord Shiva and Parvati is worshipped in the Hindu month of Kartik in Bengal.He is believed to be the God of fertility. Handsome in appearance,Kartik is worshipped by those desirous to have a son.
A traditional custom,though bizzare is to stealthily leave an image of Kartik at the doorstep of a childless couple. Well-wishers supposedly consider it their moral responsibilty to do the same.The couple,then has to install the idol in their house and make quick preparations to offer puja , which a brahmin priest conducts.
Not only that,an elaborate feast is served to all those who take part in the puja and gifts are offered to Kartik by one and all. It is believed that the childless couple will very soon be blessed with a son like Kartik.
In the red-light areas, women deprived of the joys of motherhood adopt Kartik as their son on this day,thereby giving vent to their suppressed yearning to mother a child.
Another custom is that elderly women often shower young women with the blessing of getting a groom as handsome as Kartik.
Kartik puja is celebrated with great exuberance and gaiety in Chinsurah and Bansberia in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.
