Durga Puja 2008 or the five day Durga Puja festival honouring the Goddess Durga, was celebrated from 2008-10-05 (Shashti) to 2008-10-09 (Dashami). Like previous years, Durga Puja was celebrated with the usual pomp and grandeur in West Bengal especially in Kolkata. The competition among the Puja Pandals and the level of creativity was at its best. [1]
Time table for Puja 2008[]
The main events of the puja ceremony were scheduled as follows[2]. The tithis are non-uniform since they represent the transitions of the moon into different zones, following the lunisolar Bengali calendar.
- Mahalaya ‘Tarpan’:- 29 September (Monday) (12 Ashvin 1415): 1:15pm - 30 oct 12.55pm
- Maha Panchami :- 4 October (Saturday) (17 Ashvin 1415): 3 oct 4:35pm-4 oct 6:28pm
- Maha Shashti - 5 October (Sunday) (18 Ashvin 1415): 4 oct 6:29pm-5 oct 8:32pm. Ritual Events: "kalparambha" before 9:27am; Durga Devi "bodhan" "Amantran" and "Adhibas' in the evening )
- Maha Saptami - 6 October (Monday) (19 Ashvin 1415): 5 oct 8:33pm-6 oct 10:35pm. Ritual Events: "naba patrikA" before 9:27am; pre-dawn bathing of "kalA bou"
- Maha Ashtami - 7 October (Tuesday) (20 Ashvin 1415): 6 oct 10:36pm-8 oct 00:29am. Ritual events: sandhI puja 00:05am-00:53am, sacrifice 00:29am
- Maha Nabami - 8 October (Wednesday) (21 Ashvin 1415): 00:30am-9 oct 2:04am
- Bijaya Dashami - 9 October (Thursday) (22 Ashvin 1415): From 00:30am-10 oct 2:04am. Ritual events: sindur-play in the morning, followed by bisarjan.
Gallery of images from 2008 Pujas[]
Asian Paints Sharad Shamman (2008)[]
This years Asian Paints Sharad Shamman was also declared on the night of Ashtami. Unlike previous years, seven winners were declared judged by people from various artistic fields. Discovery of the Year was given as a joint winner to separate Puja pandals.[3]
Winners:
- Best Puja : Telengabagan Sarbojanin
- Best Puja : Laketown Natunpally Pradip Sangha
- Best Puja : Tangra Gholpara Sarbojanin
- Discovery of the Year : Santoshpur Lakepally
- Discovery of the Year : Hatibagan Nabinpally
- Creative Excellence : Naktolla Udayan Sangha
- Best Artisan : Barisha Club (Shri Purnendu Sen)
Finalists
- Hatibagan Sarbojanin
- Bosepukur Talbagan
- Darpanarayan Tagore Street
- Laketown Adhibashibrindo
- Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha
The panel of judges included Agnimitra Paul (fashion designer), Kaushik Sen (actor), Suman Chattopadhyay (journalist), Sanatan Dinda (painter), Locket Chatterjee (actor).
| Preceded by Durga Puja 2007 |
Durga Puja 2008 October 6, 2008 - October 9, 2008 |
Succeeded by Durga Puja 2009 |
| Asian Paints Sharad Shamman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Best Puja | ||
| Preceded by Pathuriaghata Pacher Pally Khidderpore 25 Pally Laketown Natunpally Pradip Sangha |
Telengabagan Sarbojanin Tangra Gholpara Sarbojanin Laketown Natunpally Pradip Sangha October 2008 |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Discovery of the Year | ||
| Preceded by Kankurgachi Mitali Sangha |
Santoshpur Lakepally Hatibagan Nabinpally October 2008 |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Creative Excellence | ||
| Preceded by New Alipore Suruchi Sangha |
Naktolla Udayan Sangha October 2008 |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Best Artisan | ||
| Preceded by Chakraberia Sarbojanin Shri Purnendu Dey |
Barisha Club Shri Purnendu Dey October 2008 |
Succeeded by incumbent |