Kolkata: Despite an extra day this Durga Puja, Ashtami anjali at most community pujas following the Surya Siddhanta Almanac or Gupta Press will be a rushed affair on Oct 19, likely starting around 6.45 am and ending by 7 am. The 15-20-minute window means there will be one, or at most two, anjali sessions.Some housing complexes have opted to switch to Drik Siddha Almanac or Bisuddha Siddhanta, followed by Ramakrishna Mission and other religious institutions, where Ashtami anjali can be held between 10 am and 11.15 am.In 2024, Sandhi Puja was scheduled even earlier, at 6.25 am. That year too, some residential complexes had shifted to Drik Siddha Almanac for a more favourable Sandhi Puja timing, allowing Ashtami anjali to be held later. Sandhi Puja is scheduled from 7.26 am to 8.14 am.Para pandals will, however, stick to Surya Siddhanta Almanac and face a tight schedule as Nabami begins at 7.50 am on Oct 19. With sunrise at 5.39 am, Ashtami Puja must be wound up by 7 am so preparations can be completed and Sandhi Puja started at 7.26 am sharp.“Unlike the relative flexibility in pujas on Sashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami, the timing of Sandhi Puja at the cusp of Ashtami and Nabami is rigid. It has to start exactly 24 minutes before Ashtami ends and conclude 24 minutes after Nabami starts. Thus, the Ashtami puja has to be completed well before Sandhi Puja window as its rituals have to be completed within the 48 minute window,” said Jayanta Kushari, principal of Sarbabharatiya Prachyavidya Academy.The time crunch would have been more severe but for a provision allowing puja preparations to begin 24 minutes before sunrise. “Usually, pujas in Hindu scripture can only begin after sunrise. But since Ashtami Puja has to be completed between 5.39 am and 7.25 am, the preparations can be started 24 minutes before sunrise at 5.15 am. That way, the Ashtami puja can be completed comfortably,” said Kushari.Natun Dal secretary Sandipan Banerjee said they would hold just one round of Ashtami anjali and more rounds of Sandhi Puja anjali later. “I think several other puja committees will do the same,” said Banerjee, also president of Forum for Durgotsav.At Bagbazar Sarbojanin, which follows the Benimadhab Sil Almanac, the priest plans anjali between 5 am and 6 am. “Many families have been offering anjali here for generations. So we will deviate from norms to accommodate them,” he said.South Winds on Southern Bypass will shift to Bisuddha Siddhanta. “That is why we are shifting to Bisuddha Siddhanta, which can enable maximum attendance as the anjali schedule is later in the day,” said RWA member Indranil Acharya. Siddha Pines in Rajarhat and Siddheswari Garden in Kestopur have also made the switch to ensure the anjali is at a comfortable time.Daffodil Greens in Tollygunge will stick to Suryasidhanta but add a later window. “A 15-minute window so early in the morning makes it difficult to accommodate all residents. So we will have another anjali session later in the morning after Sandhi Puja is over,” said Sudip Roychowdhury, secretary of the complex.Ballygunge Durga Puja Samity at Maddox Square, one of only a handful of community pujas that follow Drik Siddha Almanac, will hold Ashtami anjali between 10 am and 11 am.
