Hats off you Nandini Bhowmik! In her decade-long stint as priest, the Kolkata-based woman has solemnized weddings in a unique way. Hansal Mehta Attacks Byjus In Series Of Tweets With Bad Personal Experience. The group, led by priest Nandini Bhowmik and his associates - Ruma, Semanti and Poulami - will be responsible for all the rituals in the five-day festival at 66 Palli. West Bengal Priestess Does Away With 'Patriarchal' Kanyadaan These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. Bhowmik said, "I want to do away with the patriarchal mindset where parents appear to be renouncing the custody of their 'kanya'." Bhowmik, a Sanskrit teacher at Jadavpur University, also translated the Sanskrit verses in English and Bengali. Want to know what this Sanskrit professor thinks about . I have heard so many male priests reciting the mantras wrong. India Narrative, a news and views website, impactfully captures a new phase in aspirational Indias rise as an influential player on the global stage. Bhowmik is passionate about her work. He grew older,knew his castle wouldn't survive further.. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. The decision is being lauded by many as this is the first time women are going to conduct Durga Puja. Kolkata: Dr. Nandini Bhowmick led a quiet and quite a revolution when she took stage as a woman priestess. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. Happy Pujo: What a picture from South Kolkata! Puja led by woman priest Subscribe to India's fastest growing youth blog. Start a conversation, not a fire. An Indologist, Nandini Bhowmik along with three of her like-minded friends formed Shubhamastu, a wedding ritual performing team of priestesses. Nandini teaches Sanskrit at Jadavpur University, and to solemnise the unusual wedding of Anvita Janardhanan and Arka Bhattacharya, she was accompanied by Ruma Roy, a fellow priest, and Semanti Banerjee and Poulami Chakraborty who serve as vocalists. A group of women in Kolkata are set to create history during the upcoming Durga Puja in Kolkata by breaking into a male bastion. Images used here are taken from the internet and ED holds no right over them. 230 Share 10K views 4 years ago Nandini Bhowmik's work as a priestess (lady purohit) is absolutely against any kind of discrimination- be it religious discrimination or sex discrimination, they. Nandini Bhowmik, a disciple of Gouri Dharmapal, along with the three others priestess who compromises Shubham Atsu, perform weddings by amalgamating tradition with contemporary, thus making it extremely relevant to the . In Pics: Double Meaning Logos Across The World, Breakfast Babble: How I Found Peace After I Stopped Opening LinkedIn, Modi Declares 14th Of August As Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Pakistan Calls It Publicity Stunt, Meet Worlds Richest Beggar From India With A Net Worth Of Rs. Nandini is the priestess, who is leading the group of female priests called, 'Shubham Astu', who has been striving hard to bring equality to the rituals of our wedding. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Bhowmik said she considers herself as a reformist. Initially, women were only allowed when men werent available to perform the rituals. A Sanskrit professor at Jadavpur University, she recently solemnised her daughters marriage. Nandini came forward with a motive. But 2018 is a different year and we have been seeing a series of revolutions breaking from every nook and corner in this country. I want to do away with the patriarchal mindset where parents appear to be renouncing the custody of their kanya, treating her like a commodity and giving her away as daan(donation), says Nandini Bhowmik, reports TOI. Called Shubhamastu ("let it prosper" loosely translated in. The idol that is worshiped is female, so why cant women perform priesthood? You have entered an incorrect email address! PSP Technology is a technology solution and service provider company focusing mostly on Web and Mobile application. A Sanskrit professor at the Jadavpur University, Bhowmik has undertaken a unique way of solemnising as many as 40 marriages over 10 years - she simplifies Sanskrit hymns to English and Bengali. France Is Burning And Riots Have Engulfed Paris, Heres Why, Demystifier: What Is The Uniform Civil Code & What Makes It, ResearchED: Manipur Violence: What Happened And Current Situation, . Disclaimer: Please note that all content published from the Brand Voice author page is syndicated content. It has nothing to do with impurity. With her talent, Nandini has become so popular across the state that several couples reach out to her months before their wedding, to ensure that she is available on those dates. The ill-fated voyage of the Titanic submarine has revealed heartbreaking facts about the passengers' final moments on board. At a friends wedding officiated by Nandini and her friends last year, I was instantly drawn to the way the Sanskrit lines were vividly explained in English and Bengali, Arka said. We live in a country where rituals are cruel to women. Nandini Bhowmik - The Indian Priestess Who Stands For Equality They have simplified the hymns and explained their intricate meaning in English and Bengali. The Act of God - Priestess of Kolkata-Subhamastu Nandini - Facebook They promote equality among partners and hence if the man applies vermillion to a bride, she also applies a tikka to him. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ? I love Poha, never knew a day is dedicated to it! We do not own that content and do not claim responsibility. She has performed rituals for as many as 40 marriages. MINE IS BENGALI POH What is the favourite food of all Bengali "Bhoots" (Ghosts)? It is neither written, edited nor verified by ED Times or any of its authors/bloggers. Copyright 2022 Pixstory Global Holding Inc. {"id":"2400653","source":"Bureau","title":"History created in Kolkata Durga Puja","section":"","slug":"","section_id":"","author":"","content":"The 66 parish in South Kolkata is set to create history by giving the responsibility of worship to four women. Indologist and Priestess Nandini Bhowmik has significantly made a mark among aspirational women who are looking for ways to emerge as a force of their own. #Dedicated to a #mother #daughter #bonding #kanyadaan #indianweddingbuzz #wedmegood #weddingfashionevents #wedding_photography #candid #art #storybycamera #nikon #nikkor #nikonlover #wedding #photographers #spreadinglove #spreadinghappiness #zara #sabhyasachi D&D's Photography @cpdaiya50, A post shared by D&D's Photography (@daiyasworld_50) on Feb 27, 2018 at 1:52pm PST. The khuti puja, which is the inauguration prayer for 66 Pally, will be conducted on 22nd August, which the 4 priestesses will perform. Hence the Puja committee decided to set an example, and smash the Patriarchy by asking the Priestesses to conduct all the rituals during the five days of Durga Puja. To be able to do enough justice to the theme, they got in touch with Indologist and Priestess Nandini Bhowmik and her team members Ruma, Semanto and Poulomi and convinced them to get on board. In an attempt to give an insight behind their initiative, Pradyumna Mukherjee also added, Being a woman cannot be the criteria of not appointing them. The advent of feminism saw women standing astride with their male counterparts. I respect the traditional priests and I am not in confrontation with them. They cover memorial services, housewarming rituals and various other rituals, with Durga Puja now being a new addition. Nandini Bhowmik - Kolkata's first woman priest who solemnize wedding. But now one female priest in Kolkata Nandini Bhowmik is doing away with these patriarchal impositions and breaking stereotypes. According to the New York Times, Christine, "Not all rags to riches stories are stories of honest intentions and legitimate wins, said filmmaker Hansal Mehta openly criticized the Indian edtech startup Ranked as one of the #Top10 Youth Media worldwide* (for the second year in a row), awarded the BEST BLOG at India Digital Summit Awards 2019 by IAMAI & Times Now, ED Times is a youth media publication; the No. All Rights Reserved. 1 Source For In-depth News Stories That Matter To Millennials. Sources: Times of India, The Indian Express, Firstpost, The post is tagged under: Kolkata, Durga Puja, priestess, patriarchy, Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti, Ritabhari Chakraborty, 66 Pally, puja committee, veteran, male priest, rebellious, change, women empowerment, spirit, theme, Maayer Haate Maayer Abahon, Mother, goddess, mothers, Indologist, Priestess, Nandini Bhowmik, Pradyumna Mukherjee, Shubhamastu, Ruma Roy, Semanti Banerjee, and Paulomi Chakraborty, Ruma Roy, Semanti Banerjee, Paulomi Chakraborty, gender inequality, sexism, Bengali, film, generation, modern. The puja committee claims that if this year becomes a success and the priestesses agree, they dont mind having them back next year and the following years as well. Embrace A New Era Of Possibilities With Galaxy F54 5G. If society insist on doing Kanyadaan, then people shall also perform Putradaan. Subscribe to Indiatimes and get handpicked updates based on your interests! By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login. Meet the woman priest who performs weddings without kanyadaan - YourStory Female Priests In India - From Stigmatization To Acceptance Nandini Bhowmik, a disciple of Gouri Dharmapal, along with the three others priestess who compromises Shubham Atsu, perform weddings by amalgamating tradition with contemporary, thus making it extremely relevant to the modern couple. We dont believe in segregating men and women, in segregating between humans. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. Talking to The Better India, Nandini further said, "The knowledge in our scriptures cannot stay hidden behind an ancient language. Did The Simpsons Predict Missing Titanic Sub Scenario In 2006 Episode? But things are slowly changing, it might be like seeing a shooting star, but female priests sure are a reality now. Most modern marriages are of the Gandharv category, wherein a man and woman choose each other irrespective of their castes and communities. She is also an eminent professor of Sanskrit, a dramatist, and an Indologist. Nandini Bhowmik - Lady Purohit, The Indian Priestess From Kolkata Here we present the wedding video of Tanmoy and Aparupa.A Bengali Wedding by Shubhamastu - An Organization of Female Priest founded by Dr. Nandini Bhowmick. A group of women in Kolkata are set to create history during the upcoming Durga Puja in Kolkata by breaking into a male bastion. The first woman Hindu priest in West Bengal, Nandini Bhowmik is giving patriarchal society a progressive outlook. Nandini Bhowmik - Order Management Coordinator - LinkedIn Nandini Bhowmik - SheThePeople TV If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance. Meet India's First Hindu Priestess, Nandini Bhowmick by Lehar Jain | Dec 10, 2020, 14:02 IST News Follow on In the world solely dominated by male presence, Nandini Bhowmick has shattered the glass ceiling and patriarchal beliefs alike. He added that this year because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, they decided not to have grand celebrations and instead opted for a traditional Durga Puja in their club. An Indologist, Nandini Bhowmik along with three of her like-minded friends formed 'Shubhamastu', a wedding ritual performing team of priestesses. ","summary":"The 66 parish in South Kolkata is set to create history by giving the responsibility of worship to four women. But now one female priest in Kolkata Nandini Bhowmik is doing away with these patriarchal impositions and breaking stereotypes. Through its co-founder, ED Times is also a member of the World Economic Forums Global Council on Media & Entertainment 2020-21, with an aim to give visibility to upcoming new-media ventures from India. 2023, India Narrative - All rights reserved. We dont believe in segregating men and women, in segregating between humans. I Did Not Want To Be 'Given Away' at My Wedding. These - VICE Breakfast Babble: Heres Why The Idea Of Sisterhood Doesnt Attract Me, Hansal Mehta Attacks Byjus In Series Of Tweets With Bad Personal, Study Finds Disturbing Link Between Climate Change And Domestic Violence, Corporates Talk About Scary CV Lies And How They Spot Them, Breakfast Babble: It Was In College Where I Figured Out Life, : , Bengaluru Engineering College Demands 2.1% Of Students CTC As Placement Fee,, Father Of DU Student Stabbed Speaks Out, Shares Disheartening Comments, , This Dating App Can Prevent Ghosting; Heres How. Four women priests led by Nandini Bhowmik perform Sashti Bodhon, chandipath and arati at a pandal in South Kolkata on Monday. Also read: ITBP Inspectors daughter breaks through glass ceiling to join forces officer ranks, Giving a cogent argument to the media, Mukherjee said: Dont women make all the arrangements for conducting puja rituals in household and para (locality) puja. Samsung's Revolutionary Technology Transforms Every Journey Into A Floating Sensation. MAA IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SENSE Your real #smile behind fake #tears & Your real #Tear behind Your Fake #smiles. She has performed rituals for as many as 40 marriages. Wedding by Nandini bhowmik as wedding priest - YouTube ","websiteurl":"https://zeenews.india.com/video/news/history-created-in-kolkata-durga-puja-2400653.html","thumbnail_url":"https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/styles/zm_700x400/public/2021/10/07/00000003_16.jpg","thumbnail_1200_900":"https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2021/10/07/00000003_16.jpg?im=FitAndFill=(1200,900)","isyoutube":"No","playtime":"PT51S","news_type":"video","videourl":"https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/ZEE_NEWS/0610ZN_KOL_WOMEN_PERFORM_PUJA_ZEE.mp4/index.m3u8"}, 'Cried To See His Glimpse' Russian President Vladimir Putin Then Invites 8-year-old Girl To Kremlin, Taal Thok Ke: Who is entitled, who is a traitor, the personal mess of 'pawars', DNA: 'Pabji wala pyar' or Pakistani 'trick', visa-free entrynot a security breach, Baat Pate Ki: AIMPLB intensifies protest against UCC, appeals to protest by issuing letter, DNA: In South Korea's 'city of the future' Zee News Exclusive. It treats women as a commodity, without any personal identity, who is always identified by their male relations. Which kind is your favorite? But this bigotry was not present during the Vedic age, there is mention of priestesses in the Rig Veda. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. And why not! Wedding by Nandini bhowmik as wedding priest Payel Chatterjee 37 subscribers Subscribe 165 Share 7.4K views 3 years ago KOLKATA Made with Film Maker https://play.google.com/store/apps/de. A group of women in Kolkata are set to create history during the upcoming Durga Puja in Kolkata by breaking into a male bastion. I love Poha, never knew a day is dedicated to it! In her decade-long stint as priest, the Kolkata-based woman has solemnized weddings in a unique way. Pradyumna Mukherjee, senior office-bearer of the puja committee said, As we told them about our theme, they were taken in by the idea. This is the first time in the history of Durga Puja, that women will conduct an entire pujo. Approximately a decade ago, when Sarkar was a college student, she had first seen a woman priest conduct wedding rituals, a profession that has traditionally been the domain of men, when her college professor Nandini Bhowmik sat down to conduct her own daughter's wedding rituals. ED Times is a trademark of Edecode Media Pvt Ltd. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. A group of four priestess from Kolkata, Nandini Bhowmik, Ruma Roy, Semanti Banerjee and Paulomi Chakraborty are all set to break old age tradition and rituals. Earlier in 2020, Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti, a Bengali film released which portrayed the struggles of a woman who strives to be taken seriously and with respect as she tries to fulfill her dream of becoming a priestess. Bengali Vedic Wedding of Atanu & Almitra by priestess Dr. Nandini Bhowmik and Subhamastu. [VoxSapce Life] Nandini Bhowmik - The Kolkata Priestess - VoxSpace What Will Happen If Manipur Is Put Under Presidents Rule? ED Times takes no responsibility for the content uploaded by individual authors. Nandini Bhowmik, the priest in question, wanted to discard the patriarchal ritual of kanyadaana concept in which parents seemingly renounce the custody of their daughter as if she were a commodity. Ganguly, unlike Kapil Dev, n. We strictly follow the scriptures. Remember, how women of the menstruating age were barred from entering the Sabarimala temple. Read more:Picture Of Single Mother Performing Her Daughter's 'Kanyadaan' Is A Tight Slap To Patriarchy. There are mentions of prolific women like Lopamudra, Vishwawara, Maitreyi, and Ghosha, who have composed innumerable hymns. West Bengal's first priestess solemnises marriages without Kanyadaan This will be followed by the five-day continuous worship of Maa Durga during the second week of October where the womens real work begins. Facebook gives people the power. Thus, these four Priestesses are ready to bring a revolution in the city of joy on how Durga Puja is conducted, therefore doing their bit in bridging the gap for gender equality. First, they chanted all the mantras in Sanskrit and then explained them thoroughly in English and Bengali. Woman priest performs wedding without ritual of 'Kanyadaan' An important aspect of ceremonies conducted by female priests is that they are much simplified and the chants are bilingual-in Sanskrit and English or Marathi. Frankly, how can there ever be any debt and its repayment among parents and their children? We think the scriptures need to be interpreted and communicated in an appropriate manner to the modern generation, Nandini said. ; , Demystifier: Who Is The Wagner Group Chief Who Vowed To Topple. The Jnana Prabodhini and Shankara Seva Samiti are some of the first institutes that teach women to become a priest, and it welcomes women from every caste, a big step by challenging the Brahmin supremacy over everything religious. They allow you to question the relevance and idiosyncrasies of religious rites. Nandini Bhowmik - Kolkata's first - The Bengali Today - Facebook History created in Kolkata Durga Puja | Zee News In such a patriarchal society, Nandini Bhowmik rises up to crash the gender stereotypes. But her most special one till date has been the role of a woman priest. The 66 parish in South Kolkata is set to create history by giving the responsibility of worship to four women. But before all these jobs, she takes out time to marry couples -- mostly inter-religious, inter-caste and inter-ethnic couples throughout Kolkata and its suburbs, READ:Keralas First Woman Imam Faces Backlash For Leading Friday Prayers. These women promote an egalitarian partnership, a new world order, where men and women are equal. Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and its doctrines of it are derived from the Vedas. Sourav Ganguly helped Bengali nationalism more than Indian cricket. Women are breaking the glass ceiling in every sphere so why shouldnt officiating the annual Durga Puja rituals be one of them? A man rised a sandcastle with emotion of love and care With course of time,tides of challenges fought against him. Have you been to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam- a temple dedicated to the yoni or female genitalia of the primitive goddess- Shakti? By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View the profiles of people named Nandini Bhowmik. She is also a drama artiste in her free time. This year, 66 Pally is high on women empowerment spirit and is smashing the patriarchy with their theme. Ganguly, unlike Kapil Dev, You had Sherlock Holmes-Watson, we Bengalis had Feluda-Topshe by Satyajit Ray. A group of women in Kolkata are set to create history during the upcoming Durga Puja. Female Priests Are Reshaping Traditions And Putting An End To Meet India's First Hindu Priestess, Nandini Bhowmick Image Courtesy Pexels. 7.5 Crores, Sleeping In Cramped Rooms, Wife Of Titanic Sub Victim Shares Harrowing Final Moments, Breakfast Babble: Heres Why The Idea Of Sisterhood Doesnt Attract Me Anymore. This Community of India Reveres Mahishasur And Does Not Celebrate Durga Puja! In an article in way2barak.com she is quoted as stating: We conduct rituals at social functions like marriage, rice ceremony, funeral and grihoprobesh puja (house warming). These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. We strictly follow scriptures. A female priest was the protagonist in the movie, Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti, directed by Aritra Mukherjee. Most of the female priests are above 40 years and are mainly housewives. We design . Her work went on to inspire the Bengali film, Brahma Jaanen Gopon Kommoti in 2020 which has now been selected for the Indian Panorama section of the 51st International Film Festival of India to be held in Goa from January 16-24, 2021. Powered by Indiatimes Lifestyle Network. It is the mindset of the society that needs to alter so that such women are allowed to become the harbinger of change. These women are extremely progressive and yet hold on to traditionalism. Kolkata Priestess Junks Patriarchy, solemnizes Wedding Without Kanyadaan! This year, 66 Pally is high on women empowerment spirit and is smashing the patriarchy with their theme. We do conduct grihoprobesh puja. In her decade-long stint as priest, the Kolkata-based woman has solemnized weddings in a unique way. This graceful crusader fights against misogyny and stifling orthodox culture. These four priestesses headed by Nandini Bhowmik will perform all the rituals in the coming Durga Puja celebrations IN Bureau Published: August 21, 2021 11:26 am 4 min read Women are breaking the glass ceiling in every sphere so why shouldn't officiating the annual Durga Puja rituals be one of them? They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. . Post with kindness. Thefirst woman Hindu priest in West Bengal, Nandini Bhowmikis giving patriarchal society a progressive outlook. Yet, a woman is considered impure because she bleeds every month. The Shubhamastu quartet at Debanjana Sarkar's wedding in 2019. ? In an attempt to give an insight behind their initiative, Pradyumna Mukherjee also added. Meet Nandini Bhowmik: The priestess who's challenging patriarchy Thus, this years Puja is appropriately being themed as Mayer Haate Mayer Abahon (Mother Goddess will be worshipped by mothers. She believes that a lady is not a commodity that she will be gifted to her husband. She merges traditional values with modern beliefs and presents a fresh view of age-old rituals. Nandini Bhowmik, Ruma Roy, Semonti Banerjee and Paulomi Chakraborty form a four-member group of women priestesses based in Kolkata. Mukherjee said based on the success of this move, they will continue with women priestesses provided the four are willing to be associated with their organisation. The steps that are being taken by women priests are extremely revolutionary. As with any good thing, there are critics, but these gracious ladies fight their battles with smiles on their faces. You can worship it, but still, ostracize the same life-giving phenomenon, and use it to marginalize women. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. This is the story of Nandini Bhowmik, the priest who's ensured that several young brides go to their future houses without a penny from their parent's wallets. Priestess chants shlokas in Bangla too, does not advocate kanyadaan Nandini Bhowmik - The Indian Priestess Who Stands For Equality Contradicting and reasoning with the beliefs Ujwala said, " Times have changed. They are attracted to this profession due to its appreciation and arent inherited as a family lineage, as is the case for most male pundits. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. A Bengali Wedding by Shubhamastu-Female Priest | Nandini Bhowmick Nandini's modern beliefs about culture and traditions battle the conservative practices of Indian wedding rituals. Pradyuman Mukherjee, a senior officer of the Puja mentioned "Don't women make all the arrangements for conducting puja rituals in household andpara puja? They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. So a female pandit isnt a new phenomenon, it is just a re-emergence of forgotten customs, which were curbed by the patriarchal society of the middle ages.