Hazaribag: For the Ghosh family of Chatra district, Durga Puja is not just an annual religious ritual. It is a homecoming — a time when relatives scattered across the country return to Jatrahibagh to worship together and renew family bonds.The family puja, started by late Birendra Nath Ghosh in 1970, has continued uninterrupted for more than five decades. Unlike community pujas that rely on public contributions, the celebrations are funded entirely by the family.Preparations begin nearly two months before the festival. Local artisans make the idols, while the goddess’s crown and ornamental headgear are brought from Kolkata. A Bengali priest from Gaya conducts the rituals, and dhakis from West Bengal’s Midnapore add to the atmosphere with their traditional drumbeats.“The puja was started by my uncle in 1970. Today, family members living in different parts of the country make it a point to return to Chatra during Durga Puja. This tradition keeps the family connected and strengthens our bonds,” said Abhijit Ghosh, a family member.Sandhi Puja, held at the juncture of Ashtami and Navami, is one of the main highlights. The goddess is offered 108 lotus flowers, 108 ghee lamps and 108 betel leaves. From Saptami to Dashami, the family serves a variety of bhog and prasad to devotees.On Dashami, women of the family take part in sindoor khela and pray for the well-being of their loved ones before bidding farewell to the goddess.The family also follows an unusual ritual of worshipping Lord Ganesha with an idol made from banana trunks and seven varieties of wood before immersion.Despite rising costs, the Ghoshes have kept the puja free of donations. Their annual celebration stands as a testament to the family’s enduring commitment to its Bengali religious and cultural heritage — and to a tradition that has kept generations connected for over 50 years.
