Pragati

Kali Puja
We had a fantastic Kali puja on Nov 16, 2002. Also the bone marrow drive was successful. Thanks everybody who participated.

Lakshmi Puja
24-Oct-2002: We had a very successful Durga Puja on Oct 12, 13th. Please do come in large numbers again to celebrate Lakshmi Puja this Saturday (Oct 26th, 2002). See below for details.
Thanks to the executive committee and all others who did a commendable job of organizing this event. Also thanks to all the parents who watched over their children so that they don't do any damage to the property. As you know school property is strictly non-smoking, so we would request you to kindly not smoke within the premises, even not outside on the parking lot. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Please contact Pradip Bhaumik at 610-543-4785 if you have questions.

Also note that a Music Concert will be held during Kali Puja. Renowned artists Ms. Suchismita Das, Mr. Nirmalya Roy and Mr. Ratan Bhattacharjee on the Tabla will be performing. They have been performing all over USA and have been getting great reviews. Stay tuned, more to come.

13-Oct-2002: We had a great turnout of over 400 people yesterday!!! Please do come in large numbers today too. And please don't forget to make your event fee donations, details available on the front desk. We need your support to organize great events like this, now and in future.

Our presence is felt even in Kolkata.... See our Protima.

DURGA PUJO!! HOI HOLLA!! MAA!! DHAAK!! DHUNUCHI!! ARATI!! ANJALI!! DANCE!! DRAMA!! BHOG!! KHICHUDI!!

Ya, it's that time of the year again, excitement in the air. Maa Durga is on her way to visit and bless us all. Pragati welcomes you to the Durga, Lakshmi and Kali Puja celebration yet again, year after year. Please come in large numbers with your friends and family.

Saturday, Oct 12, 2002 Durga Puja (Mahasaptami & Mahaashtami)
11:00 AM Puja, Arati and Anjali
03:00 PM Prasad and Bhog Distribution
04:00 PM Dinner
06:00 PM Variety Cultural Program

Sunday, Oct 13, 2002 Durga Puja (Mahanabami & Bijoya Dashami)
11:00 AM Puja, Arati and Anjali
02:30 PM Prasad and Bhog Distribution
03:30 PM Dinner
05:30 PM Variety Cultural Program

Saturday, Oct 26, 2002 Lakshmi Puja
11:00 AM Puja, Arati and Anjali
02:00 PM Prasad and Bhog Distribution
04:00 PM Dinner
06:00 PM Variety Cultural Program

Saturday, Nov 16, 2002 Kali Puja
11:00 AM Puja, Arati and Anjali
03:00 PM Prasad and Bhog Distribution
04:00 PM Dinner
06:00 PM Variety Cultural Program

Please mail your literary, Art work, advertisements for Pragati's Annual magazine before October 12, 2002 to
Pragati, Inc.
P.O. Box 42508,
Philadelphia, PA 19101

Directions
Durga Puja venue:

Colonial Elementary School
230 Flourtown Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

From Philadelphia and South
1. I-76 West Schuykill Expressway
2. I-476 North exit towards Plymouth Meeting (exit # 331 B)
3. Merge on I-476 North
4. Take Germantown Pike East
5. Turn right on Germantown Pike East
6. Turn left on Colonial drive, next to Plymouth Whitemarsh HS
7. Proceed North on Colonial Drive to the Colonial Elementary School.

Lakshmi/Kali Puja venue:

Pennfield Middle School
726 Forty Foot Road
Hatfield, PA 19440

From Philadelphia and South
1. I-76 West Schuykill Expressway
2. I-476 North exit towards Plymouth Meeting (exit # 331 B)
3. Merge on I-476 North
4. Take PA-63 exit towards Landsdale (exit # 31)
5. Turn left on Sumneytown Pike
6. Turn left on Forty Foot Road.

Durga Puja
India the land of diversity has numerous festivals to celebrate. One of them is Dussehra or the Durga Puja or the Navratri. In north India, it is celebrated as Dusshera, commemorating the victory of God Rama over the Ravana, or the victory of good over evil. In various places Ramlila is played & watched with great reverence. On Vijay Dashami, dummy of Ravana is burnt at various places with lots of excitement & festivity.

In Gujarat, Dusshera is a nine day festival, called Navratri. Victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasur is celebrated. Fasts are kept for nine days. All night people play "dandiya raas" or Garba dance in keeping with the exuberant nature of this festival.

But this festival is the festival of the East, especially in Bengal, where it is celebrated with great devotion & enthusiasm. Here too victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasur is celebrated, signifying victory of good over evil. She is also called "Mahishasurmardini" The celebration starts with Durga Puja followed by Lakshmi Puja & it ends with Kali Puja which is celebrated a day before Deepawali. It is also believed that once a year the goddess comes home to her parents with her four children Ganesh, Karthik, Lakshmi & Saraswati so it is an occasion to celebrate.

The flowering of 'Kaash' announces the oncoming of Puja. Puja can be heard in the beats of 'Dhaak', can be smelled in 'Dhunuchi' & 'Sheuli' flower. The main Puja begins on the seventh day or the 'saptmi' and ends on 'Vijay Dashmi' with the "Visarjan"of the goddess in the river. Majestic Pandals are built to house the glorious images of the Goddess. Fairs accompany these pandals. People wear new clothes on all the four days and visit each other from Vijay Dashmi to Kali Puja. The "khichudi" is the main prasada offered to the goddess on the eighth & the ninth day. The main dishes to offer to the guests on Dashmi are "nadu" & " dodhi korma". Such reverence, devotion & enthusiasm is nowhere to be seen.