“ O Ayre Chutey Aay,
Pujo r Gondho Esheche;
Dham Kur Kur , Dham Kurakur , Baddi Bejechey..
Gachey Shiuli phutechey, Kalo Bhomra jutechey..Palla diye akashey meghra chutechey“
By Saheli Mukherjee
The most iconic Sharodiya song by the maestro Salil Choudhury perfectly captures the innocence. joy, emotion and spirit of Durga Pujo for every Bangali. There is no better way to begin narrating what this time of the year is for a child or to an adult if you associate with the very Sharodiya essence, the Shiuli phool and the Dhaak !!
Is this feeling any different here in Brisbane? Not really! Bengali Society of Queensland and the other associations in Brisbane relives these moments away from home every sharodiya event or calendar.
The core Bengali tradition of 5 days of Durga pujo, the excitement and smell of new clothes, sharing the love and joy of camaraderie and empathy does not lie in personal consumption but in sharing, being inclusive and making sure no one is left behind and deprived of the goodies. A lesson that goes a long way in life and makes us a better human being. Brisbane Bengali-s rises to this expectation every year with the same enthusiasm, energy, flavour and wish to do even better.
Blessed are the Brizzy Bengali-s as we enjoy the best of both worlds here beyond the shores of our homeland. “The Bengal” brings us in collaboration with Australia India Radio Mahishasur Mordini, another iconic and monumental creative genius of the playwright Bani Kumar, music director Pankaj Mallik and the legendary narrator Birendra Krishno Bhadra, that sets the countdown to Durga Pujo with the onset of Devipokhyo.
As always, Bengali-s in Brisbane enjoyed the dual broadcast of Mahishasur Mordini alias “Mahalaya” at 5 am and 7am, on Saturday 10th October this year. This auspicious day, with the Sanskrit chants of the creation of Adi Shakti, depicts the classic tale of victory of the good over the cosmic evil.
Mahalaya reverts to the context of restoring peace in a world plagued by systemic demons that requires unified global consciousness, leadership through empathy, restoration, sustainability and growing need for justice and active resistance for corruption and tyrrany. As Mahalaya begins in pitch darkness, the dawn of the Amavasya, devi pokhyo transcends into sharodiya light and liberation – the annual wake up call that whenever darkness takes over, a righteous collective energy will rise to restore peace.
“Durgey Durgey Durgotinashini… Mahishasur mardini Jai Maa Durge”
The Mahalaya also marks Pitru Pakhya, honouring our ancestors, alongside the official announcement, the Agomoni, of Sharodiya Utsav. With only seven days to Maha Durga Saptami, the planning towards another successful arrangement for Durga Pujo culminates into a weekend frenzy at Coorparoo Secondary College. The preparation of the show days under the banner of “The Bengali Society of Queensland” is a mammoth task of plating everything that any Bengali would aspire and immerse in nostalgia. From “Pujo r Gaan” to “Pujo-r Khaan Paan”, Bengali Society of Queensland looks after all under one roof.
Let me tell you that Durgapujo 2026 was gorgeously celebrated this year from 16th October to 18th October at Coorparoo Secondary College where we recreate Kolkata r Pujo and Pujo r Kolkata in Brisbane.
In this successful and glamorous era of social media and global awareness, expectation and participation to this world heritage listed celebration has reached new dimensions. The three days celebration at Coorparoo Secondary College held and graced a footfall close to five thousand this year. The story of this world heritage celebration has reached out to friends and network of other communities in greater Brisbane including the Lord Mayor’s office and the Local Councillors.
This is a festival for all and everyone expects the best during these few days. As the members’ list improves BSQ strives to give back to its members and community the best of Sharodiya bringing together pujo r lights, pujo r flowers, pujo r mela, pujo r mondop, pujo r mishti and pujo r prasad along with pujo r upobash – the multi-sensory carnival of art and culture.
By tradition and by norm the Sharodiya vibe means Sharodiya Argha – the pujo offerings, Sharodiya Patrika – the pujo magazine, Sharodiya Mela – the street food and jewelleries, the Sharodiya Sanskritic Onushthan – the Saturday cultural extravaganza, Sharodiya Shubhechha – mishti mukh and Bijoya Dashami….The Bengal and The Bengali Society of Queensland looks after all to complete the Sharodiya Utsav in Brisbane. None of the above Sharodiya aspects are ignored.
The final day of the celebration is a grand closing ceremony which attracts thousands of people to the show of drums beats, dhaak, kashor ghonta, kara nakara. Brisbane Brizz Boys and the Maharashtrian Drum group did the honours and every one joined in to a rhythmic dance ensemble of all ages. If you are reading this and have missed this year, please add this one on your bucket list for 2027.
The memories of such an emotion-packed celebration and adrenalin rush cannot be overlooked as everyone wants to capture the moments in their own way. There are moments that go live on social media, whatsapp groups, Instagram, YouTube or by simple exchange of videos and image clips.
Members and non-member visitors at Coorparoo Secondary College reach out and grabs the opportunity to lock in their cameras those wonderful Sharodiya memories that will now stay until next year ….”ashchey bochor abar hobey” is the mantra. The fashion parade, the art and crafts, the songs and dance, recreate from the waste, the continuous pujo r mantras, Anjali, dhaak er kaathi, Ullu Dhwani, the bhog prashad lines, the debi boron, the final wrap up…each one as much on the top of the other on this list.
New friends lists are created, new whatsapp groups are formed, new promises are made, new milestones are reached. Among the list of all the new additions the top ones as always is the Mandap by Shukla & Shukumar Chakraborty, the Lights by Mita & Prabir Haldar, the Flower garlands by Krishna & Ashim Majumdar, the Menus by Ranjan and Brinda, the Pujo rituals by Sabita Bala & Banibrata Mukherjee, the New columns on Kaash Phool and the New members that does the icing on the cake.
The guests for this year’s Sharodiya celebrations were the members from the Lord Mayors Office, Brisbane and Moreton Bay Council, Swami Atmeshananda ji Maharaj of Vedanta Society of Brisbane made this annual event a grand success.
“Dhaker Taley Komor doley khushitey Nachey je Monn
Aaj Baja Kashor, Joma Aashor, Thakbey Maa Kotokhyon
Bolo Dugga Mai ki, Joy!!! “
