The Nou-Gosai Hauli Durga Puja (Residence of Nau-Gosain family) in North Guwahati will complete its 201th anniversary this year. This puja will be conducted in a sacred, spiritual environment, albeit without extravagant displays.
The tradition of worshop of Shakti in Assam is very ancient. The celebration of Durga Puja in publlic spaces of the society began only in 1889. From being conducted under the patronage of Ahom Sargodeus (kings) only in 1889 durga puja started being celebrated by the public. Durga puja for the first time was celebrated in Ujan Bazar Barowari area of Guwahati . Prior to that Saradiya Durga Puja was conducted in temples(Maath, Devalaya) besides being celebrated by some prominent families of those days. As time moved on Raaj Purohit/Purohit(Chief royal priest/priests)and officials of the royal family received patronage for conducting durga puja. During the British regime many Bengali families started the culture of celebrating Durga puja and eventually the tradition of Durga Puja celebration in Assam gained momentum.
It may me mentioned here that Assam has records of celebration of 150 year old Durga pujas.The Durga Puja of the Nau-Gosai family in Rajaduar, North Guwahati is one such puja . The family draws its line from Swargadeu Lakshi kanta Singha’s Diksha guru(Consecrator) Nau-Gosain family Acharya Ramananda Xorujana’s son Gangeswar Gosain’s descendant Maujadar Gobindeswar Goswami. Maujadar Gobindeswar’s family is continuing till date the tradition of conducting and celebrating the puja in a austere manner.Durga Puja celebration is believed to have started simultaneoysly with the coming of British to Assan .In 1818 during the third Burmese ( Maan ) the Swargadeus with their officials had to flee to lower Assam. During those times Diksha Guru (consecrator) of Swargodeu Chandra kanta Singha, the family of Nau-Gosain also came along from Pahumara area of Majuli. Later on., Borjana Gosain’s (1st son) family and Majujona Gosain’s(2nd son) family went back and stayed permanently in Dergaon. The Xoru jana’s Gosain’s(Youngest son) family stayed back in Rajaduar, North Guwahati.
The Nau-Gosain family in North Guwahati has been performing Durga Puja continuously since the days of Yogeswar Goswami. The Nau- Gosain family, residing in North Guwahati, follows both Shakti and Shaiva traditions. The Nau-Gosain family’s branches in Dergaon and the current residence of the elder and middle branches of the family too have maintained their traditions uninterruptedly. This year, the Durga Puja of the Nau-Gosain family in North Guwahati will cross 200 years.
Before the British Empire established its rule in Assam, Sarujan Gosain started performing Durga Puja in 1823 at the Rajaduar Gosain House in North Guwahati. Although there is controversy surrounding the celebration of Durga Puja in Majuli, the Nau- Gosain family claims that their ancestors had performed the puja in Majuli under the patronage of Ahom kings.
Despite being one of the oldest and most historically significant pujas in North Kamrup, this puja has not gained much popularity. Currently, the family of Late Govindeswar Goswami continues to perform the puja following vedic and Tantric rituals.Unlike modern barowari pujas, this puja remains free from competition. The Nau- Gosain family emphasizes vedic and spiritual aspects in their puja. Previously, animal sacrifice was a part of the puja, but it was discontinued in the 1880s. Since 1901, the family has been worshiping clay idols. of Devi Maa Durga. Notably, renowned sculptor Nabín Ghosh was brought from Bengal by Mauzadar Govindeswar Goswami in 1901 to make the idols. Later on his renowned sculptor son Ramesh Chandra Ghos commissioned to make the idols.
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