Carrying 300 years of tradition, Moulik family’s Basanti Puja thrives in Kolkata

In a quiet corner of Rajpur’s Lebutala neighbourhood, a centuries-old legacy continues to unfold each spring. The Moulik family’s Basanti Durga Puja, believed to be nearly 300 years old, stands as a living archive of memory, migration and tradition.Originally from Faridpur, now in Bangladesh, the family traces the age of the puja through ancestral names inscribed on the Debighat. That legacy survived the upheaval of the Partition of India, when the late Paresh Nath Moulik crossed the border carrying little beyond the sacred Debighat and a 300 year old Barahodanta Narayan shila.Today, the puja is organised by his grandson Debamalya Moulik at their residence in Rajpur, on the southern fringes of Kolkata.What distinguishes this Basanti Durga Puja is its faithful adherence to East Bengali customs. The idols follow a traditional arrangement with Ganesha and Saraswati placed to the left of the Mother Goddess, while Lakshmi and Kartik are positioned to her right. The idols are crafted by Sanatan Rudra Pal, whose work adds a distinct artistic identity to the celebration. Rituals remain central to the observance. The Kola Bou, or Banana Bride, stands beside Kartik to the Mother’s right, and her ceremonial bathing marks the beginning of the festivities. This is followed by Sandhi Puja, while Navami sees the performance of the Homa and the offering of Bhog that includes a large Boal fish weighing over nine kilograms.On Dashami, the Mother is offered Kachu Shak and Panta Bhat. In keeping with East Bengali traditions, Puti fish is an essential part of the midday meal.Over time, the puja has also become a cultural gathering, drawing well-known figures such as Sourav Ganguly, Rituparna Sengupta, Kaushik Ganguly and Swastika Mukherjee, along with political personalities and local residents. Despite its scale, the essence of the puja remains deeply personal. “Basanti Puja is one of the most significant festivals for Bengalis and a cherished tradition of our family,” says Debamalya Moulik. “The joy of carrying forward this legacy is truly indescribable.”In a rapidly changing world, this Rajpur household continues to preserve a seamless connection between past and present, where tradition is not just remembered but lived.