Rajiv Roy outlines some of Shillong’s oldest and grandest Durga Pujas while focussing on the Jail Road stepping into its 100th year
THE JAIL Road Durga Puja, the third oldest community puja in Shillong after Harisabha and Thana Road, is stepping into its 100th year. Government employees from Assam and Bengal, who subsequently settled down, began celebrating this puja in 1914.
The Jail Road Puja venue is a 4,005 square meter plot that the British India government donated in 1896 to establish the Jail Road Society Hall (JRSH). Under founder-president Saday Charan Das, an ex-district magistrate, and secretary Chandra Nath Sharma, JRHS was registered in 1913. The inaugural puja was organised in a makeshift pandal, and it wasn’t until 1927 that an Assam-type mandap was constructed. The mandap was also used as a primary school.
As the number of students increased, the school was shifted in 1964 to keep the mandap only for religious and spiritual purposes. “The school was moved to a two-storied house nearby, which belonged to Saday,” said former locality headman Hironmoy Dhar, 90.
The local community formed a theatre group to raise money for a new school building as well as a concrete mandap. The latter was completed in 1971 with JRSH president Avinash Choudhury inaugurating the puja that year.
Dhar said World War 2 affected the puja celebration as most settlers had to leave Shillong due to bombardment. A similar situation prevailed during the Bangladesh liberation war. But adverse conditions did not deter the puja committee from organising cultural events, sporting activities and theatres. The Jail Road functions were significant for breaking the gender barrier – women were allowed to perform alongside men.
In those days, each puja committee was assigned a cultural competition on a fixed day. If Saptami was for Opera Hall, Ashtami was for Jail Road, Navani for Harisabha and so on. Arrangements were also made for affiliate members of Shillong Shilpi Sangha to play in tandem in several pandals.
Approaching its centenary year, the Jail Road Puja Committee would be carrying on the theatrical tradition besides organising several cultural, arts, sports and cuisine festivals during its yearlong celebration. “We have earmarked Rs 15lakh as budget for the centenary celebration,” said Subhasish Roy, one of the committee’s secretaries.
Other oldies
Narsing Akhara: Started by settlers from Bihar in 1953, this puja at Quallapatty is known for its themes such as Vaishno Devi, Jurassic Park and London Bridge. This year’s theme is the Uttarakhand disaster. The mandap adjoins the temple of Narsing dating back to 1870.
Jagannath Temple: Better known as Opera Hall, this temple of 1895 vintage has been organising Durga Puja since 1901. Cultural programmes and theatres are the essence of this celebration.
Shree Shree Rajasthani Durga Puja: A crowd puller for its lighting and decoration besides ghee-based canteen service, this puja since 1961 has made locals stay away from their kitchen to gorge on an array of Rajasthani meals, snacks and desserts.
Gorkha Durga Puja: The Gorkha Rifles started Shillong’s first Durga Puja in 1872. Civilians took it up and transformed into a committee puja in 1942 when the regiment was transferred to Quetta in Pakistan. Unlike the others, the puja here runs for 10 days and the shrine at Luckier Road has three temples for it. The first temple has the idol of the deity, the second called Kotghar is where birds and animals are sacrificed and the third is where the main puja takes place.
Asomiya Namghar Ruprekha Parishad: This Namghar was established after Assamese people began settling at Wahingdoh, Riatsamthiah and adjoining areas in 1922. Since the inaugural puja in 1925, the worship of the Mother Goddess has been performed in a style rooted in the Namghar traditions.
Nartiang: This 500-year-old Durga temple in Jaintia Hills district is one of the top 51 pilgrimages for those believing in the Shakti cult. The puja rites are performed in a unique blend of Hindu and ancient Jaintia traditions. The local Syiem is the chief patron of the temple and every Durga Puja he sacrifices goats in the Goddess’s honour.
Rajiv Roy