Quintessentially Bong- The Durga Puja Lookbook

For starters people who do not know much about this huge Indian festival let me brief you.

The Festival:

According to Indian mythology, the king of Asuras (Demons) – Mahisasur, through years of praying, received blessing from Lord Brahma, that no man or deity would be able to kill him and that only a woman can kill him. But once gaining this power, he started ravaging the whole world and killing people until finally he wanted to uproot the Gods too. The Gods, in dismay, combined their divine energy and summoned up a feminine form so brilliantly glaring that it illuminated the heavens – the Goddess Durga. The goddess, with the gift of weapons from the gods had a fierce battle with Mahisasur. Finally when Mahisasur in the guise of a buffalo charged against Durga, the goddess beheaded the buffalo and from it emerged Mahisasur in his original form.

Bengalis believe that Goddess Durga returns to her mother Menoka and father Giriraj during puja. Arriving with her children and two friends Jaya and Bijoya, Durga stays with her parents for four days this time of the year, only to return to Shivalaya on the ‘Dashami’. Her four children – Ganesh, Kartik, Saraswati and Lakshmi – represents respectively the Initiator of the puja, the Protector, Knowledge and the Provider – signifying the complete manifestation of the goddess. (Source: Sharad Utsav 2015)

That was the mythological part. For Bengalis all over the world this five day festivity is the much awaited time of the year when fashion, music, dating, culinary prowess, travel and finally worship all combine into one.

Goddess Durga arrives with her children

The Look:

For Bengali women these five days are nothing short of having the runway fever with us transforming ( atleast mentally :P) into the gorgeous models and pandal hopping in our best outfits. Though I border on sounding boastful, I will have to mention that bengali women re renowned for their beauty all over the world. With their lusturous black long hair, doe-eyes, sharp features and dusky complexion they sure are the exotic Princess one always dreamt of. Shopping for the pujas start way back so that we don’t leave out anything for the last minute. From make-up to the outfit to the hair- everything has to be drop dead gorgeous. At the same time a big confusion is what to choose to wear for the five days and what look to sport as there are numerous options available.

For all those gorgeous ladies out there I decided to be of a little help by showing my make-up look and outfits for these five days. I have demarcated each look by the day and night looks for all these five days. Have a look 🙂

DAY 1 (SHASHTI)

Day Look– The first day of the Puja ofcourse if I dont count Panchami in. I have decided to keep the look quite simple. It should be a teaser as to what to expect for the next few days. I generaly prefer Indian ethnic wear for these five days. If you are game for western wear too..play round with it. For the day look I have decided to wear a pastel shade chiffon sari in Pink. You can wear it either with a halter blouse or  a normal one. Makeup should be minimal with just Kohl, some pink eyeshadow and gloss to do justice to your look. The hair can be either tied up in a loose bun or a pony. I have worn white stone jwellery to go with it.

Day look- pink chiffon sari worn with a normal blouse

Day look- pink chiffon sari paired with a halter blouse

Night Look– For the night I have decided to wear a sleeveless brocade Kurti. Not much going on there in the makeup department either. Play it easy on the first day. Just some basic makeup and hairstyle will do. either wear your long black mane loose or in a braid. simple accessories as well. You can wear the churas if you wish if you are a married woman.

Night look- brocade kurti

Night look- the open hair look

DAY 2 (SAPTAMI)

Day look– You are easing into the Puja and its already the second day. I have decided to play on with the pastels for the day look. But this time round I have draped my yellow saree in a different manner and jazzed it up with some fun accessories like the headband and handbands which are western in look. So I have adopted the somewhat fusion look for the morning. For the makeup I have kept it subtle yet defined. I have worn a belt at the waist. In this look the accessories play a pivotal part.

Day look- Yellow sari draped in a different style

Day look- Jazz it up with the accessories and make-up

Night look– My pastel fetish continues but this time with a slightly darker hue of pink. Its a chanderi sari. Wear the right amount of make-up and jwellery and you are good to go. I have paired the outfit with a tribal neckpiece. You can either tie your hair in a pony or leave it open.

Night look- Chanderi sari

the open hair look

Day 3 (Ashtami)

Day look– O.K so this is the day we all wait for. The major day of the Puja and one for which we reserve our best outfits. For the Day look I have decided to wear a net chiffon Sari in pastel hue with a floral pallu. its a patlipallu sari. I have tied up my hair in a pony. The make-up is dewy and subtle. i have worn a statement neckpiece in blue and some accessories.

Day look- net chiffon sari

the dewy make-up

Night-look– For the night I have reserved a heavy pallu sari with embroidery and Zari work . The bright red of the pallu is colorful and glamorous and the beige body of the Sari tones down the dark red. For the make-up I have done smokey eyes. the accessories are not much as the sari itself is embellished and thus the look should not be overdone.

the red pallu sari (night look)

the make-up

Day 4 (Navami)

Day look– The puja is drawing to a slow close. For the day I have reserved a chiffon sari in coral with a light border. The make-up is subtle but poignant. The accessories just right.

Day look- Coral saree

the make-up

Night look- For the night I decided to wear a lehenga draped in a sari style with pastel hued jwellery. My hair is tied in a loose bun with front fringes.

night look- lehenga

lehenga draped in sari style

Day 5 (Dashami)

Day look– The final day of the Pujas. generally one would wear a saree in white withred border for the ‘ sindur khela’, since I do not have one here in london I have decided to go for an all red look. The sari is simple cotton with prints.

day look- red saree

The durga pose 🙂

Night look- Make your pick- the one in bright red with gold border or the one in marroonish red with black border? There is even one in plain maroon shade.

Plain maroon sari

sari in bright red with gold border

marronish red sari in net

Women- the creator, the power, the beauty… Let us always achieve victory over evil. Enjoy the Pujas 🙂 Let the color of love shine on 🙂