Autumn in England is a "season of mist and mellow fruitfulness". But to all with ties to India it is also a season of celebrations that mark the confluence of philosophy, religion, traditions, art and culture in the form of Sharodutsav-the autumnal festival.
The Indian Cultural Society (ICS), Cambridge’s, Sharodutsav is a tribute to the spirit of Indian-ness that transcends the myriad differences to rejoice in our inherent oneness. Through a kaleidoscope of events we commemorate the victory of good over evil and partake of the joys of giving and sharing. The two day long celebrations draw as much inspiration from remembering the forgotten waft of the morning shefali and the dhakis first sound in the homeland afar, as from the collective will to imbibe from and impart to our surroundings out here.
Ours is a puja still in its infancy-still set out on a journey to discover and define its own niche. Started in 2002 with immense enthusiasm by a handful of brazen optimists, it now solicits participation from hundreds across the region. And therein lies its greatest strength. It is not so much the pomp and ardour that defines this puja as does the warmth and harmony that this celebration has nurtured over the past few years. Its not about pandals or pratimas, it is about people-and what this puja brings to their lives.
To us our Durga puja–like in the legend-is a metaphor of homecoming in our own different ways. For those who wistfully remember the years back home it provides that cradle of nostalgia. And yet for those that are growing up here, trying to connect to their roots whilst still assimilated in their surroundings, it provides that platform to discover their own unique identity.
For yet others, to whom India is a distant occult land full of contradictions, it has often been an opportunity to witness the rich tapestry that has been woven out of centuries of merging of so many different cultures and traditions, rid the mind of stereotypes and begin on a voyage to understand the deep spiritualism that lies behind all the apparent ritualism that essentially underpins these celebrations.
The emphasis has always been to draw on the quintessence rather than get mired in dogma. From the year 2007, what initially started out as a day long affair, has now panned into a weekend long jubilation that retains the most solemn significant and enjoyable aspects of the four day saga. One of the high points of the 2007 celebration was the splendour of its venue-the city’s magnificent ancient guild hall-thronging with more than three hundred people drawn from across the many different communities and cultures that symbolise the multiculturalism of Cambridge. 2008 will see us further consolidate our efforts to enthuse and unite, what with the arrival of our new idol from Kumartuli in Kolkata –a stunning fusion of traditional sculpting with modern fibre glass medium.
No discourse on the ICS Durgotsav would be complete without a mention of its members-those sturdy pillars on the ICS porch whose unfaltering and ever growing support has rendered the puja what it is today. From students to professionals, from toddlers to octogenarians- we all pitch in for months to make the celebrations happen. Be it airbrushing the fine details of an aesthetic and pious ceremony, maneuvering the logistics involved in a gathering of hundreds, cooking gourmet meals for those very hundreds, or engaging with the muses to enliven the evenings-the efforts are stupendous, voluntary, and perhaps unknowingly in the process, the biggest cementing force for the community. Also worth mentioning would be the interest and financial support that this celebration now draws not only from the local city council, but also from several corporate sponsors from even nearby counties.
To conclude, one remembers the ancient wisdom of the Vedas–Vasudhaiba Kutumbakam-The World is One Family. Long may the Cambridge Sharodutsav prosper and bind us all into one universal family rejoicing the arrival of Ma Durga -the embodiment of strength, goodness and glory and inspire us in this spirit to spread love, kindness and joy.
