Shillong : Goddess Durga or Shakti symbolizes feminine power and what better way to celebrate Durga puja in matrilineal Meghalaya is to organize the celebration by women.
The Bongo Bodhu Durga puja committee at Forest Colony in Shillong is one of the unique puja celebrations that is being organized by a group of 16 women.
There are 250 Durga puja pandals across the state this year and the Bongo Bodhu committee stands out for being an all women committee.
“We are an all women’s group of 16 members and we have been celebrating Durga and Kali puja since 2012. We women undertake every aspect of the puja right from bringing the idol from the idol makers to immersion,” Bongo Bodhu Durga puja committee president, Saswati Dey, said.
The committee holds the Durga puja at Forest Colony in Meghalaya’s capital Shllong.
Apart from Dey some of the other members include Shoma Pde General Secretary and Krishna Dey as Cashier.
The committee was established in response to some of its members feeling marginalized in other puja committees solely due to their gender. “We came together and wondered why we, as women, couldn’t organize the puja ourselves,” noted Dey.
The initial period was undeniably challenging, as they had to begin from scratch, starting with the collection of donations, bringing in drummers from outside the state, and crafting the pandal with the help of local artisans.
“Throughout these years, we’ve acquired the skills to smoothly manage the festivities, and as homemakers, we’ve grown both in strength and confidence,” the committee’s President added.
This women’s committee not only conducts the puja but also contributes to the welfare of the underprivileged. “Every year, we provide exercise books to nearly a hundred thousand needy schoolchildren throughout the state, and this gives us immense satisfaction,” stated Dey.
Facing a shortage of funds, this exclusively female committee is determined to expand its horizons. In the forthcoming years, they aspire to welcome female priests and women skilled in drumming into their fold.
“We are committed to the idea of having female priests and drummers, but at present, we encounter financial constraints in procuring them from West Bengal. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that our aspirations will be realized in the near future, with the blessings of Maa Durga,” expressed Dey with unwavering confidence.
