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Seal Lane Family Preserves Forgotten Saptakalpa Durga Puja Observance
27 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Das family observing rare 15-day Saptakalpa Durga Puja since September 15
- Tradition once followed by Bengal's zamindars, now largely faded
- Idols feature older iconography like horse-shaped lion and airborne Mahishasur
In a time when the city is still counting down to Sashti, the Das family of Seal Lane has been observing a rare 15-day Saptakalpa Durga Puja since September 15. This extended ritual, which prescribes ceremonies from morning till evening, was once a tradition followed by Bengal's zamindari families but has now largely faded, making the Das family's observance a unique survival.
Over nearly two decades, the Das family has been keeping this ancient practice alive, beginning their Puja on the Nabami tithi of Krishnopokkho and continuing through Sukhla Nabami. This year, the rituals will stretch through October 1, a full 15 days of worship.
The idols used in the Das family's Puja also carry echoes of older iconography. This year's white, horse-shaped lion (Aswa Singha) recalls a time when sculptors fashioned lions after horses, while the airborne Mahishasur is a metaphor for how evil keeps rising but is restrained by good. These unique elements add to the family's commitment to preserving this centuries-old tradition.
