1n. Link between Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra and Durga Puja.

Today is 'Ulta Rath'... the day when Lord Jagannath bids adieu to his Mashi and returns home, promising her to be back next year.
As Mahaprabhu returns back to his regular schedule of blessing his True Bhakts and ...

2n. ....showing them way to Moksha; we Bengalis hv yet another reason to rejoice.
On the day of Rathyatra, the 'Parikathamo Puja', puja of the wooden frame on which the idol of Goddes Durga is made, is performed. On this day the Kumars, the artisans who make the idols, perform...

3n....a small puja seeking blessing of the Goddess, as they begin the work of sculpting the idol. Then they put the first block of clay on the frame.
In Bengal, you get to see two types of Pujas: the Bonedi Barir Puja( Puja organized by Affluent traditional Bengali families,

4n....dating back few hundred years) and the Barowari Puja( those organized by the Puja Committees, the commercialized ones).
For the commercial ones, the idol making begins much earlier, to meet the deadlines. But the Barir Pujas still follow the age old traditions.

5n....So if one wishes to feel the real essence of Durga Puja, he/she must take part in a Barir Puja.

So with Lord Jagannath saying Goodbye to his aunt, its time to begin with the preparation for the celebrations, for the bengalis.

6n...The nostalgia... the Puja Puja Bhab is in the air!!
Esho Ma Durga... we are eagerly waiting for you!!