New Jersey Durga Puja 2009 : A Review

Durga Protima Kallol of New JerseyFinally the annual Durga Puja celebrations are over. I was mostly present at the Kallol pujo but also paid (no pun intended) short visits at the Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Anandamandir. Kallol, just like the previous year, had a full house and had to turn away several people. In one of my previous blogs I had requested, rather wished, that Kallol provide a daily ticket for people who would like to come in for a day. However, for whatever reasons, Kallol decided on the contrary and the result was that I had to listen to complaints from several disappointed friends and family.  Well, rules are rules – that’s what I said.

This year I did something which I never did before. I dropped in on Thursday evening – and it was real fun. There was no pressure of showing the badge, no parking tags, no stress about reserving seats with shawls and jackets and no celebrities on stage to pay attention to. While the volunteers were busy setting up the idol and the kids busy rehearsing on the stage, I had a good time chatting with  friends. For once, after a long time, I had the pleasure of pure Pujo adda – completly unadultered fun. I think we should, at least informally, start the festivities from Thursday – just to prolong the enjoyment for few more hours. Continue reading

Durga Puja and Cultural Events: The 2009 New Jersey Lineup

Ujjaini MukherjeeIn New Jersey, Durga Puja is a special time when the festive mood brings with it a flurry of entertainment and cultural programs across the state. This year too the line up looks very promising although the spirits have dampened a bit due to the tough economic times and with the rejection of visas of few of the performers.  Still the combination of local talents and professionals from India is bound to enthrall the Puja attendees on the coming weekends.

I’ll try to briefly summarize the lineup this year, although the organizers have in many cases conveniently omitted the details about the local performers from their web sites. I tried to collect as much information I could manage. If any of you have more information, then please feel free to add them to this post as comments. Continue reading

Durga Puja 2009 – Just a Month Away

Durga PujaBengali Associations of NJ are gearing up for the biggest festival of the year – Durga Puja. This year the festival starts quite early, around 25th-26th of September. Kallol, GSCA and Anandamandir will be celebrating their Durga Puja during that weekend.  And just like last year we should expect that the registration to start soon. GSCA has already opened their online registration, and Kallol is expected to open theirs in early September.

Last year (2008) was the first time when Kallol of NJ started their online pre-registration process and it caused quite a bit of furor amongst the Kallol regulars who failed to register early. The registration window was closed as soon as the guest count limit was reached and that left many people with a bad taste.  Some people were able to get in at the last moment (I don’t know how) but several people had to go back. I think Kallol needs to do something about this. Continue reading

HERITAGE DAY & ANANDA MELA 2008


ANANDA MANDIR Presents
HERITAGE DAY & ANANDA MELA 2008
A FUN FILLED DAY OF ACTIVITIES

Starting with Heritage Day Celebrations August 16 @ 10:00am

NATIOANAL ANTHEM, PRABHAT FERI, FLAG HOISTING, BHARAT
MATA PUJA, CHILDREN TREE PLANTING, PRESIDENT’S SPEECH,
CULTURAL PROGRAMS including VANDE MATARAM- Song & Dance

FOODCOURT & SHOPPING,

Followed by Ananda Mela Activities @12:00pm–
GAMES FOR Adults, Young Adults, Children & Family;

CHILDREN’S COMPETETIONS
BADMINTON & TABLE TENNIS COMPETITION;
($5 ENTRY FEE FOR MEN’S / YOUNG ADULT’S BADMINTON & T.T. COMPETETION)
CANDY SEARCH & SPOON RACE, MUSICAL CHAIR,
TUG OF WAR & YOUTH PROGRAM – MAGIC SHOW,
PRIZE DISTRIBUTION & RAFFLE DRAW

In the evening 6:30pm ONWARDS Rakhi & Jhulan Yatra Samapan
AND Community Dinner

AT ANANDA MANDIR CAMPUS
Date: AUGUST 16th, 2008
Time: Starts at 10.00 AM
269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: 732 873 9821
www.anandamandir.org

Contact: Krishna Dutta Roy – 732-390-8069 / Sanjit Dutta – 732 821 5996

Ananda Mandir requests your presence to make this a Grand Success

Ananda Sandhya: Madhumita Saha


AT ANANDA MANDIR Artists of the month

MADHUMITA SAHA
Madhumita will be accompanied on Tabla by her husband, the illustrious
Tabla Maestro
Pandit Samar Saha

On the harmonium, it will be our own and very talented
Sri Kedar Naphade
Who has accompanied all prominent vocalists from India for many years

As you can see, this one will be memorable event presented by ANANDA MANDIR

Please come and share this fabulous musical evening.
As usual, the ANANDA SANDHYA concert is FREE, Children come free. However, your kind donation is always graciously accepted.

Ananda Mandir is located on Cedar Grove Lane off Easton Avenue in Somerset, NJ.
For info, call Arun Bhowmik at 908-672-1452.

Bhajan Sandhya at Anandamandir


On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami (Sunday, August 24, 2008), Anandamandir will be hosting a four hour long (3.00pm to 7.00pm) event of Bhajans and Bhakti Sangeet.

Musicians are invited to participate (singers, accompanists) in this great event and be a part of the Anandamandir community.
If you would be interested to participate, then please send an email to suranjanbc@hotmail.com by Thursday, July 31, 2008. With your help and support this will be an enchanting evening of Bhajan and Bhakti Sangeet.