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Contents RBBA Family & Puja timings Page 4 Message from RBBA President Page 5 RBBA and Membership Page 6 by Anamica Roy The Traveller Page 7 poem by Taanisha Banerjee The Village Artwork by Satvik

3 Contents RBBA Family & Puja timings Page 4 Message from RBBA President Page 5 RBBA and Membership Page 6 by Anamica Roy The Traveller Page 7 poem by Taanisha Banerjee The Village Artwork by Satvik Nath Page 7 Nobo Durgar Porichiti by Kalyan Chakrabarty Page 8 Making the Durga Pratima in Kumartuli by Jim Robinson Page 10 On your mark, set Pujo team RBBA by Anindita Banerjee Page 15 Durga Puja in England by Mala Chatterjee Page 19 Happy girl Artwork by Sanskriti Maiti Page 19 Kothin Proshno by Shantanu Nath Page 21 Olympics By Audric Thakur Page 22 London Olympics 2012 Mascots Artwork by Shlok Thakur Page 22 ya devi sarva bhooteshu oteshu matru roopena samsthita namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaha (Devi, who art manifest in all existence as mother, I worship thee, over and over and over again.) Cover page artwork by: Jim Robinson Brochure design by: Nilabza Dutta and Shantanu Nath Marketing team: Harish Gummalla, Arindam Thakur, Amitava Dasgupta and Ramanurup Sen Website: 3 P a g e

The RBBA Family President Secretary Treasurer Charity Advisor/Secretary Committee Members Members Associate Members RBBA Kids Atanu Dutta Amitava Dasgupta Arindam Thakur Anamica Roy Shantanu Nath,

4 The RBBA Family President Secretary Treasurer Charity Advisor/Secretary Committee Members Members Associate Members RBBA Kids Atanu Dutta Amitava Dasgupta Arindam Thakur Anamica Roy Shantanu Nath, Harish Gummalla, Samiron Ghoshal, Bhaskar Mandal, Probal Majumder, Jayanta Ray, Nilabza Dutta, Indranil Kundu Mamata Roy, Mala Dutta, Dola Majumder, Uma Dasgupta, Sandeep Maity, Dipankar Chowdhury, Sagarika Sankhari, Sagarika Thakur, Sutapa Ray, Aparna Nath, Samhita Gummalla, Anjana Ghoshal, Sadhana Bose, Sangita Chowdhury, Ramanurup Sen, Malabika Sen, Debojit Das, Piyali Das, Kakoli Maity, Debarpana Dutta Nirjhar Banerjee, Anindita Banerjee, Sonalina Chowdhury, Rajith Surendran, Sushanto Sarkar, Anindita Sarkar, Chandradip Guha, Apala Guha Ayesha Ghoshal, Devina Majumder, Megha Dutta, Ramankur Sen, Oshmita Ray, Amrita Dasgupta, Oishika Ray, Rishav Das, Sharanya Das, Satvik Nath, Sohan Nath, Audric Thakur, Shlok Thakur, Aditya Bose Mandal, Shraddha Bose Mandal, Poorvi Kundu, Vanshi Kundu, Yash Gummalla, Saurav Gummalla, Dipayan Chowdhury, Diptarko Chowdhury, Sanskriti Maity, Taanisha Banerjee, Shayoni Banerjee, Rishabh Nair, Ipshita Sarkar, Aaryan Guha, Aarman Guha 2012 Pujo Timings Maha Sasthi 20-Oct-2012, Saturday Evening PM PM Maha Saptami 21-Oct-2012, Sunday Morning AM - 12:30 PM Evening PM PM Maha Ashtami 22-Oct-2012, Monday Morning AM - 12:45 PM Evening PM PM (Sandhi Puja 3.00 PM 4:20 PM) Maha Navami 23-Oct-2012, Tuesday Morning AM - 12:45 PM Evening PM PM Maha Dashami 24-Oct-2012, Wednesday Morning AM - 11:30 PM Bishorjon & Shidur Khela 12:00 PM Puja will be conducted by Mr Dipankar Chowdhury and assisted by Mr Nirjhar Banerjee. Arati and Anjali will follow after each Puja session. Prasad (lunch and dinner) will be served after daily Puja. DURGA PUJA VENUE: Slough Hockey Club, Upton Park, Upton Court Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL3 7LT 4 P a g e

5 Message from the President of RBBA Dear Friends, RBBA Willows, 44C Glenavon Gardens SLOUGH SL3 7HN United Kingdom Telephone: RBBA extends you a warm welcome to this year s Sharadiyo Durga Utsav in our new bigger and better venue at Slough Hockey club. The picturesque scenic background along with the grand marquee creates the perfect ambience with which RBBA s Durga Puja celebrations have come to be associated with. Over the next five days, we invite you all to join in this traditional festive celebration amidst the sound of dhak, conch shell and vedic chants, daily offerings to Maa Durga, cultural events and mouth-watering food cooked by our own celebrity chefs. This is the time when we delve in nostalgic memories, throw away all inhibitions and boundaries, where tradition passes from one generation to the next and we engage in endless adda with old and new acquaintances. Like the Goddess, we fight the demons within ourselves and let goodness prevail in today s society. This is our fourth venture and each year has seen a rise in popularity. People have come from far and wide to celebrate and participate in this festival. The accolades received have left us humbled and we warmly appreciate your help and support which has made this possible. With renewed vigour and endless energy and enthusiasm, Team RBBA starts planning months before Maa Durga s arrival. RBBA becomes one big family, a home away from home. Council restrictions on the use of our previous venue at this time of the year did not deter us. After a long search, we are here in this wonderful marquee, recreating the atmosphere that you have come to associate RBBA with. Team RBBA has done a wonderful job in putting up this show plenty of planning, hours of discussion, hard work and commitment from each and every member has made this possible. Above all is our insatiable desire to maintain the warmth and hospitality to all our guests. Our presence has spread to the social media with which our new generation connects. RBBA is now on facebook and twitter where you can follow the latest and best moments of this year s pujo. Our charitable work continues and we have chosen Age Concern as our preferred charity of the year. I would like to express our gratitude to our principle sponsor, MSR Ltd & the rest of sponsors who have stood by us in these hard times, without whom we would not have been in a position to organise an event of this scale. Another positive development has been the involvement of the community. We have had new members joining RBBA young, enthusiastic and full of energy. We extend a warm welcome to them. The future looks bright and secure for RBBA. Lastly, over the past four years, we have discovered the right mix of ingredients that have made our event such a success story. The one remaining issue and a major one is the lack of a permanent venue for this community event. This is what we will pursue in the years to come and hope that with the support of all of you and the council, it will be achieved one day. Wishing you all a happy Dusshera and Diwali. Many thanks Dr Atanu Dutta President RBBA 5 P a g e

6 RBBA and Membership By Anamica Roy, RBBA Charity Advisor We have been around for 4years as RBBA but who are we actually? The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under one roof. Richard Bach, Illusions RBBA is a family away from home Our journey so far: In 2009 we celebrated our first Sarbojonin Durga Puja at Baylis House, Slough; In 2010 we became official, creating our constitution and applying to register as charity; In 2011 we became an approved charity and celebrated our first fundraising event Dance the night for a cause All three years (2009 till 2011) we celebrated Durga Puja at Baylis House; During these years we had an average footfall of 3000 to 4000 people every year In 2012, due to council restrictions, we had to move our Durga Puja Venue to Slough Hockey Club RBBA as a charity, what does that mean? Well in simple terms we have some objectives and purposes to fill which are: 1. Advancement of Indian Art Cultures Heritage and Education in the form of traditional music, dance and drama amongst the people of the Asian community; 2. To advance Hindu religious values amongst people of a. Berkshire and the surrounding counties by b. Organising Hindu religious ceremonies 3. Performing traditional religious rituals and practices 4. To provide financial need and relief to the poor and sick children in the world as the trustees see fit. But why do all this? We have inherited a rich legacy of Indian art and culture and benefit from a multitude of dance forms, vocal performing arts and a plethora of languages; Team RBBA incorporates the ethic of continuous support and sharing of these rich values within the community and beyond. Hinduism is the third largest religion in this world it is varied in its form with religious celebrations ranging from Holi, Durga Puja, Diwali, Navaratri, Pongal, Rath, to name a few!! The work we do as a charity is a humble way of repaying something back to the community and to the world, since it allows those more fortunate than others to reach out and help those who need it most. How can you join our Family? We are always happy to expand our RBBA family with new members who would truly understand our objectives and support our values and ventures in earnest. If that describes you, we would be delighted to hear from you!! Simply send an to therbba@gmail.com tell us what motivates you to join us and one of us will get back to you with an easy to fill membership form which clearly states our objectives, details our annual membership fee structure and other terms and conditions! Just sign on the dotted line and we will get in touch with you soon!!! 6 P a g e

The wreath on the door, And all the snow he had seen.

7 The Traveller By Taanisha Bannerjee The traveller travels through soft fallen snow, Walking on and on, leaving foot prints behind. He has a small bag containing his few possessions, He s thinking of home with a calm tranquil mind. He remembers last Christmas fondly, Oh, what fun it had been! The wreath on the door, And all the snow he had seen. The smell of roast turkey His knitted jumper snug and warm Inside he d look out of the window At the snowy blizzard storm Wrapping up the presents Decorating the tree Tying them up with ribbons Such a pretty sight to see He snapped out of his daydream Because far of he could see A snow covered house And a tall pine tree He walks quicker and quicker He does not want to be late And finally he s there So he pushes open the front gate... "The Village" by Satvik Nath 7 P a g e

8 By Kalyan Chakrabarty 8 P a g e

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10 Making the Durga Pratima in Kumartuli By Jim Robinson The first morning I walked into Kumartuli I met Prodip Pal, a short man with wavy hair and a broad smile who knew a bit of English but was insistent that I spoke Bengali from the outset. His small workshop was the first among a warren of studios and makeshift lean-tos dotted around this kumar s quarter in the northernmost part of Calcutta as it was known then. The bus had dropped me off along the tramlines in Shobhabazaar where a street broadened out slightly and an typical Bangla temple with curved roves stood out above the other buildings. It was an old part of the city, dating back to the time when zemindars like Raja Nabakrishna Deb whose family first hired kumars from Krishnanagar to make their spectacular and highly distinctive Durga pratimas for Durgotshob in the middle of the 19 th c. In the early October sunshine master kumars were busy deciding the overall shape of the figures that make up a traditional Durga pratima. Most would be standing outside on benches in their lungis reaching up to tie the straw core tightly and pushing them firmly onto the kathamo or wooden base and the chali backdrop. This framework would have been assembled by assistants, sometimes recycling reclaimed kathamos that young boys had retrieved from the Hooghly. Whereas in the past red mangrove wood or goran would have been shipped up from Uluberia for this job, now it was mostly bamboo split into pliable shapes and tied firmly with string over a rough wooden base. They worked quickly and then let the assistants return to add the first layer of sticky entel mati over the straw core indoors and then the balu mati, a thinner sandy clay which is allowed to dry in the hot sun. Prodip was busy refining the features of a head of Durga when I visited again a week or so later. He sat cross-legged in his studio puffing at a cheroot from time to time in between dipping a cloth in some watery clay to smooth the features and carefully outlining the eyes and mouth before leaving it upside down to dry on a plank outside in the sun. He showed me different sized moulds for the heads of Saraswati and Lakshmi as well as Kartik and Mahisha. The heads of Ganesh, the lion and the buffalo would be made by hand later of course. He introduced me to a chitrakar from Krishnanagar who painted the semi-circular chalchitra that would be stuck onto the chali showing scenes from Chandi, the most sacred text used during Dugotshob. The old man deftly painted the central figures of Shiva and Parvati with Ganesh nestled in her lap set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayas. Nearby were the shops of malis who provided the dhaker shaj and tinsel headdresses which arrived neatly packaged in old newspapers to protect them. If the malis did not assemble these onto the figures themselves then the master kumar would do so, ensuring that everything was in line and straight so that the final image would look perfect for the waiting customer. Prices for pratimas were negotiated way before anything was made so that there was no misunderstanding about what was expected when the pratima was collected. You would be unlikely to get a completed Durga pratima without booking far in advance. Shorbojonin puja committees spent several months leading up to Durgotshob collecting funds needed from as many sources as they could, especially if they were planning a spectacular pandal in the city that would be better than any other. Meanwhile old families hired kumars to come to their thakur dalans and make their special pratimas on site much to the excitement of the younger family members. Finally when the pratimas were complete and ready for puja, Prodip took me to see the ones from his studio including those in the older family homes of north Calcutta where I was made to feel very much a part of the family during the celebrations. Pandal hopping was not something I did then because I preferred to spend time in one place and watch what was happening, soaking up the atmosphere of puja, the sound of the dhakis, the priests chanting and doing arti in the autumn evening. Prodip looked happy to see his workmanship, but I could see in his eyes all sorts of new ideas already forming for next year s pratimas, the ones that would be even better than this year s. Ya devi sarvabhuteshu sakti - rupena samsthita namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaha 10 P a g e

11 Making of Durga Pratima in Kumartuli By Jim Robinson 11 P a g e

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15 On your marks, set Pujo Team RBBA By Anindita Banerjee Dappled sunlight, a certain fragrance in the air and the beautiful pink blooms are my fondest memories of the time that builds up to the five days of pure and blissful extravaganza which we simply know as Pujo. Over the years the venues may have changed but the fervour and the essence that makes this so special for the millions of Bengalis have remained the same. This is the first year that we have been part of a group that organises such an event and have had an insight into the tremendous organising and hard work that goes into this to make it such a fabulous experience for the rest of us. The team meets up regularly and I have often marvelled at the passion and drive of these like-minded people working towards a common goal. With diverse views and opinions rallying back and forth until a decision is reached. These meetings are a great cultural melting pot for the children who unwittingly learn and absorb the myriad flavours on display from many shared memories and stories. It is heartening to watch our children, now famous as generation Y to be equally involved in their own way to be part of the show and what a show they have been putting up on the stage for the last few years. This is utterly absorbing and a joy to watch. Their involvement in rehearsing for their shows and submitting their entries for the brochure is a source of much delight for us. Often they can be seen huddling together discussing in earnest about their parts to be enacted or merely watching a movie together. While all of these important topics are explored and debated there is another sub meeting that usually claims our interest more often than not. I am of course referring the quintessential factor that makes this a complete extravaganza for us, discussion about clothes and jewellery and all of the splendour and emotion that this topic can evoke. Even as a little girl, pujo and new clothes went hand in hand and many onerous hours were spent with friends to perfect the outfit for those days. Not much different now as it still provides us with hours of pleasure to discuss and shop. Predictably, food and scrumptious mouth watering delicacies at that, is always the showstopper in these meetings and a lot of light banter, heated debates and many wonderful memories are shared at the dining table. Personally, the build up and the preparation for the event fire my imagination and senses far more than the culmination itself and this year it is no different. We have had a great time searching for a perfect venue, exploring various options, sharing tasks and responsibilities with a large dollop of fun thrown in. All in all it has been an awesome experience for me. The run up to the event usually engages each of us and the team has perfected a pattern for rotas that are strictly followed. Of course the experience picks up momentum and transforms into what my friend lovingly refers to as a picnic atmosphere in the pujo mandap. It is a common sight to see RBBA family members sharing responsibility with a joke permanently lightening the atmosphere. From clearing the bins to serving freshly brewed tea, from decorating the pratima to welcoming the guests everyone has a part to play, a part that defines an aspect and is equally important as any other. This camaraderie spills forth to the main pujo event where the community spirit is at its best. The ladies cheerily don their preparation gloves and chop the vegetables etc. while our house chefs lovingly prepare the cuisines. The eager young faces with genuinely warm smiles lighting up the reception desk as they welcome each one of you into our venue are the RBBA torch bearers of tomorrow. Indeed inspiring a generation wouldn t you agree? We are committed to make this a memorable experience for everyone and seek Maa Durga s blessings for the same. Look forward to thronging crowds eager to be part of the RBBA Sarbojonin Durgotsav Let s make this a memorable one!! 15 P a g e

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16 Wishing everyone a very Happy Dussehra and Diwali From EXOTIC SUPERSTORE Your local Fresh Green Grocery, also providing Fresh Meat and Poultry Supply to cater to all your daily household needs. Visit our shops for weekly special offers info@exoticsuperstore.co.uk Open 7am to 9am; 7days a week Mr. Bhandal Mobile: Oxford Road, Reading, RG30 1EH Tel: (0118) Fax: (0118) P a g e

Mobile: 07952 263373 Landline: 02380 230511 Email: b.basi@btinternet.com

17 Mobile: Landline: Website: Berkshire based Thames Valley 11+ Tutors is a young vibrant and successful organisation, offering 11+ tutoring in verbal and non-verbal reasoning Bal Basi, the course director, is a qualified teacher and 11+ specialist tutor with over 20 years of teaching experience Utilises a range of 11+ resources and teaching techniques in order to ensure that every child has a thorough grasp of the core concepts whilst developing speed and accuracy Prepare children in the 11 plus methods and techniques of all the different types of exam questions set in verbal and non verbal reasoning 11 plus courses, intensive courses and mock exams as part of our service Free 11 plus workshops for parents so that they are fully equipped to support and guide their child in the most effective and efficient way Specialist NVR teaching using a range of practical resources Professional, personal and individual service with clear precise explanations Pride in encouraging our children to develop a proactive approach to learning so that they thrive beyond the 11 plus experience 17 P a g e

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19 Durga Puja in England By Mala Chatterjee The happiest Durga puja in the last decade. 11 th October, 2010.It was my second visit to Reading, England. I was visiting my daughter who was then in Jersey, Channel Islands. Enroute to Jersey I stayed with my brother and his family in England. Durga Pujo was on the 13 th of October. Armed with my passport, I boarded the Emirates flight to Dubai and took the connecting flight to Heathrow. Since my childhood we have been told is that Ma Durga comes visiting her Baaper baari (her parents home) every year; hence we celebrate Durga pujo. Nupur, my sister in law said that I had indeed come to my baaper baari (since it was my brother home). She could not have given me a more warm welcome. And this set the happy tone for the next three days. The RBBA Durga pujo was at Baylis House in Slough. Come Shashthi evening and all of us dressed up and were off to the pandal. What met my eye was a sight I shall never, ever forget! The Durga Pratima (idol) was a near replica of the pratima that we used to worship during our childhood and I instantly forged a bond with the pratima! Friends of Bhai (my brother) and Nupur (my sister-in-law) trickled in and welcomed me into their embrace as if they had known me since ages. Touched by their warmth and camaraderie, I blended in. Happy Girl by Sanskriti Maity The next three mornings and evenings saw us all wearing new clothes and troop into Baylis House. This felt like home! It was exactly the way Pujo is celebrated in India; even better, perhaps, because of the warmth and bonding amongst people. There was anjali, followed by bhog on all three days: no mean feat this, considering that it was just the second year that a few enthusiastic young (and not so young perhaps) people got together and took to celebrating Durga pujo in England. Bhog was served for lunch as well as dinner. What surprised me most was that even on days when there was more crown than anticipated, yet nobody left without having dinner (a fact I was very touched by). The mashimas sold home-made paan (Betel leaf and betel nut a common Asian savory), to be chewed on. Navami saw nearly people coming to Baylis House and praying Ma Durga. They were not only Bengalis but also people from different communities. Indian ethnicity and diversity was at its best! The Pujo came to an end after the sindoor khela (when ladies smear one another with vermillion) on Dashami/Dussehra. I realised I was sad as I used to be when I was a little girl and didn t want Durga Pujo to end. However, all good things in life come to an end and so did these 3 to 4 amazing days. Patience, planning and perseverance went into making these celebrations so memorable and I laud the efforts of all the organisers. As I mentioned earlier - The happiest Durga Pujo in the last decade was spent at RBBA. 19 P a g e

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21 к p By Shantanu Nath 21 P a g e

22 Olympics By Audric Thakur London Olympics 2012 Mascots by Shlok Thakur Wishing you all a happy Dusshera and Diwali. May Goddess Durga bless you all. -- Team RBBA 22 P a g e

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KEY FESTIVAL DATES. Paradise By Satvik Nath Age 4 years. Harmony By Aditya Bose Mandal Age 7 years

KEY FESTIVAL DATES. Paradise By Satvik Nath Age 4 years. Harmony By Aditya Bose Mandal Age 7 years 1 KEY FESTIVAL DATES Lakshmi Puja 3 rd October 2009 Kali Puja 17 th October 2009 Protipod 18 th October 2009 Bhratri Dwitiya 19 th October 2009 Kartik Puja 16 th November 2009 Saraswati Puja 20 th January