Oldest Baroyari Durga Puja in Kolkata

This book is a 12th-month's report from 18th August to 1st September 2014, has given an account of the oldest Baroyari Durga Puja in Kolkata, namely, SANATAN DHARMOTSAHINI SABHA, BAGBAZAR SARBOJONIN CLUB PUJA, and SIMLA BAYAM SAMITI CLUB PUJA. Among these oldest Club Pujas, mention must be made of BAKUL BAGAN CLUB PUJA, which started in 1928 CE. Pujas played a vital role in changing the concept of Durga Puja from religious celebration to social celebration, encouraging mass participation. The patronage shifted from local Kings and Zamindarsto the social organisations, like that of, Clubs by the end of the 19th century. During this period, several clubs came into existence in Kolkata. By the initiation of the 20th century, hundreds of clubs emerged as an answer to the atrocities of British imperialism, which acted as a united force combating the imperial power. This publication is an outcome of the project under Lalit Kala Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Government of India which is titled as "Preservance and Digitising Art Activities During Puja Festival in Kolkata."