Devotee:
Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam.
Devotee:
Gurudev, they say for Bengalis, there are thirteen festivals in twelve months. Durga Puja is barely over, and we have already started preparations for Lakshmi Puja. Tomorrow is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja; what can you tell us about that?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja—it’s not exactly what people think. The core idea is \"Ko-Jagari,\" meaning \"Who is awake?\" The Mother says, \"I will visit the home of whoever stays awake.\" This is how \"Ko-Jagari\" became the name. It’s an evolution of that phrase: \"Who is awake? I am coming to their home.\"
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, the way we celebrate it here in West Bengal is mostly in pandals. After the immersion of Durga, a Lakshmi idol is placed there, and a priest performs the puja in a simple manner. But in \"Opar Bangla\" (East Bengal/Bangladesh), this puja is celebrated in every single household—whether rich or poor. Everyone performs it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Nowadays, \"Ghoti\" and \"Bangal\" (West and East Bengalis) have blended through marriage. Because of this, the celebration has grown here too. The Ghoti families say, \"We are doing the puja,\" and the Bangals say, \"We will do it too.\" So, the scale of the festival has increased. In the old days, and even now, we see that we don't need to cook on that evening because so much prasad (offering) comes from all around. People perform the puja with great devotion and without any hesitation, and they distribute the prasad to everyone.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Another significant thing—if you have ever been to Tarapith, on this day, the Mother (Tara) comes out to visit the cremation grounds. Someone leads the way carrying a Kathan (a ritual object), and the Mother follows behind to tour the entire cremation area. I believe that tradition has changed slightly now; they bring her out and place her in front of the temple instead of the full tour. We used to see her being carried in a palanquin to see the cremation grounds.
Devotee:
Does someone carry her on their shoulders?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, in a palanquin. They show her the entire cremation ground. Now, they mostly bring her out of the temple for everyone to see. She doesn't go all the way to the cremation grounds anymore. She is \"Mahalakshmi\"—the cause of all prosperity and grace. That is why she is worshipped with such grandeur on this day.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In our tradition, we actually have four Lakshmi Pujas throughout the year: in the months of Chaitra, Poush, Bhadra, and one on the night of Kali Puja. We perform these pujas using paddy (unhusked rice). For our people, the Poush month puja is very important because of the new harvest.
Devotee:
That’s the \"Nabanna\" festival in Poush, right?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly, Poush month.
Devotee:
Gurudev, some also worship \"Bono-Devi\" (the Forest Goddess) as a form of Lakshmi.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People have many beliefs. Ultimately, God is one and indivisible—that is the \"Advaita\" (Non-dualist) view. However, \"Dvaita\" (Dualism) suggests many forms, many gods, and many rituals. The Ramakrishna Mission, for instance, believes in Dvaita—many gods and many forms of worship. But the Belur Math also teaches that beyond rituals, there is a different spiritual path. They do perform Durga Puja and Kumari Puja as essential traditions because Swami Vivekananda instructed it.
Devotee:
Gurudev, I’ve heard about \"Vishalakshi\" Lakshmi being worshipped in the Sunderbans area as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It’s possible. Like I said, the Divine is one. We humans, with our limited minds, create different names and forms. We are easily swayed by variety. Ramprasad used to say that we are distracted by many forms, but the Truth is one. Whether we worship Durga, Kali, Tara, or Kamala, it is the same essence.
Devotee:
Gurudev, Durga Puja is over, and now we move toward Lakshmi Puja, but this year has been marked by sadness.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, look at the tragedy in Jalpaiguri during the immersion. They say eight people died, but I suspect the number is closer to 50 or 60. The flash flood came so suddenly that people didn't even have time to run. It was a terrible disaster. The government is investigating why it happened.
Devotee:
It brought a very somber end to Durga Puja.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Not just that—look at what happened at the \"Twin Towers\" pandal in Kalyani. There was a stampede. After 50 to 60 people were injured or reportedly died, they had to shut it down. They should have been more cautious from the start. They knew the crowds would be massive. The administration and the organizers should have been better prepared. It’s heartbreaking that so many young lives were lost. There were similar reports from Joynagar in the Sunderbans as well.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
This year, the festival ended in \"Vishad\" (sorrow). You know, the Gita starts with Vishad Yoga (the Yoga of Dejection), and the Chandi also begins with sorrow. Unfortunately, our Durga Puja this year began and ended in a state of sorrow.
Devotee:
Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to you.