No Puja for 100 years in cursed Hooghly village

HOOGHLY: Durga Puja may be the biggest festival in Bengal, but a village in Hooghly chooses to stay away from the celebrations every year. Palashi 58 km from Kolkata has never celebrated Durga Puja in 100 years. Residents believe they will be cursed if they organize Durga Puja. So, most of Palashi's 10,000 residents leave for other villages or travel to Kolkata to celebrate puja. Palashi comprises around 20 localities, including an Adivasi paraand five Muslim settlements. Whoever tried to organize Durga Puja in the villagemet with a mysterious and accidental death, claimed locals. Around100 years ago, Bhim Chandra Ghosh of Boinanpara, a well-to-do resident, triedorganizing Durga Puja. He was killed by lightning on Saptami morning. The nextyear, Ghosh's cousin Dinabandhu Mandal tried to hold the Puja, but died undermysterious circumstances on the eve of Sashti. Ever since, villagershave stayed away from Puja festivities. "The deaths might have been coincidentalbut we believe there is a curse. So, nobody dares to take the responsibility ofholding Durga Puja," said Tarapada Ghosh, a resident.Villagers,though, miss being part of the festival. As neighbouring villages dress up theirpandals with lights and colours, Palashi remains dull and bare. There is nochanting of prayers or the usual rush to offer anjali. Most villagers leave forother places to soak in the festive spirit. "I can't bear the silence duringPuja. It feels terrible to sit at home without getting to hear the dhak beats.So, I leave for my paternal home in Kalna," said Chaitali Ghosh. Youngstersprefer to travel to Kolkata for a round of the pandals. The others go toBurdwan. It is believed that the village can only worship Patidurgaan idol that was installed in Palashi 400 years ago. A priest named AkshayPandit established a Patidurga temple a century ago and no other idol has beenoffered puja in the village since then. His descendant Uttam Pandit is now apriest at the temple.