On: Saturday, 13th October, 2018.
At: Jamestown Room, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
Block your dates to take part in this day-long extravaganza.
View the schedule and activities Buy Dinner Tickets Now!Keep watching this space for more. Meanwhile, submissions for the magazine are open!
Submit for Sharod Shomvar 2018
25th September is approaching. Please contribute to this year's issue of our magazine "Sharod-Shomvar". You can give us anything that can be published in this family-friendly magazine --
Please do follow the below instructions
Contact: Shuchismita Biswas (suchi[at]vt[dot]edu), Virginia Tech Pujo email (vtpujo[at]gmail[dot]com)
Don't miss it!
This year our food tickets are limited in number. Please book your tickets well in advance. Swipe down to view our dinner menu. Buy Dinner Tickets Now!
It is said that driven away from their heavenly abode by the evil demon Mahishashura, the Gods sought refuge from the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (the Creator, the Nurturer and the Destroyer). Upon their counsel, the Gods combined their energies to form Devi Durga, the Mother Goddess who was power personified. The supreme female deity was born in battle armor and had ten hands that bore arms. Her mount, the lion was a gift from the mighty Himalayas. When Durga challenged Mahishashura to battle, the demon dismissed her as a mere woman. However, it was at the hands of this woman that the evil demon finally met his end after fierce battle. Devi Durga stabbed Mahishashura’s heart with the mighty trident, a gift from Shiva, her consort. (It is this image of Ma Durga slaying the demon with her trident that is ceremonially worshipped.)
Devi Durga is considered to be the epitome of a number of virtues. She resides as Power, She resides as Peace. She resides as Mother, She resides as Knowledge. She resides as Love, She resides as Valor. Despite her mythical origins, in Bengali literature, Devi Durga appears as a daughter figure who returns home once every year during the five days of Durga Puja with her four children. Thus, as much as this festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, it also celebrates homecoming.
Celebrations in BengalIn the early twentieth century, the celebrations of Durga Puja made its way out of the confines of aristocratic residences into the streets. Each year, for the five days of Durga Puja, Bengal transforms into a land of fantasies. The city of Kolkata witnesses the largest street art installation festival in the world. Hundreds of structures are erected throughout the city with different themes. Millions throng the streets amidst drum beats, music and smell of delicious street food, catching up with old friends and making new ones.
Try our special dinner menu to get an authentic taste of Bengal's royal Pujo cuisine.
Be a part of our cultural heritage by celebrating an evening with authentic Bengali dance, drama and music.
Check out a wonderful compilation of art, literature and photography and savor the rich heritage of the festival.
Our Dinner Tickets are all sold out. However there will be a few tickets up for grabs on the day of the event on first come first serve basis.
The Bengali Students’ Association (BSA) is a voluntary, non-profit organization at Virginia Tech. It has been representing the ‘Bangali’ culture at Virginia Tech for the past 8-9 years. Although the organization is comprised of people whose roots are in Bengal, India, we always welcome members who wish to be a part of the Bangali culture. Our main event is the Durga Puja which usually takes place in October. Apart from that, we organize the Saraswati Puja in February, and also arrange for a ‘beginning of school’ picnic in mid-August.
| President | Ranit Mukherjee | mranit33[at]vt[dot]edu |
| Treasurer | Esha Dwibedi | esha[at]vt[dot]edu |
