Remembering the Valiant Mahishasur

In this hyper-hyphenated world of tu-tu mein-mein, whataboutery and either-or, there are thankfully anomalies. One of them is the Sarna puja that takes place less boisterously than Durga pujo. The Sarna religion, followed by a group of adi-vasis - 'original people' of the region that includes Mundas, Oraos and Santhals - observe the annual Bengali festival from the other end of the spectrum: that of Mahishasur, the buffalo-demon Durga slays as an epitome of all things evil. For those observing Sarna puja, however, the asur is a noble, brave ancestor whom the devas were unable to defeat in a straight fight, and was killed in an asymmetrical fight.

On these five days of Durga pujo this year, adi-vasis on the outskirts of Kolkata are remembering Mahishasur, not by negating the ongoing celebratory 'party of the victors', but by simultaneously 'celebrating' their own hero. There are no idols or pandaals. Instead, there's song, dance and the worship of plants, flowers, fruit, birds, animals, rivers, hills and the forests - all things 'natural' that was once the great Mahishasur's domain. This 'counter-culture' of these 'non-Bengalis' is also not seen as a hostile gesture by those celebrating the more famous festival. It's just another people's 'another festival', something that coexists under this sky like chalk and cheese, Durga and Mahishasur.