Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta
In eighteenth- and nineteenth-century urban colonial Calcutta, Hindu Bengali gentry celebrated numerous festivals at home, including Rathajatra, Doljatra, Jagaddhatri Puja, and Kali Puja, and even marked the birthdays and weddings of their pets with grandeur. Durga Puja, held in autumn, stood out as...
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H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Festive Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/147 |
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| author | Monolina Bhattacharyya |
| author_facet | Monolina Bhattacharyya |
| author_sort | Monolina Bhattacharyya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In eighteenth- and nineteenth-century urban colonial Calcutta, Hindu Bengali gentry celebrated numerous festivals at home, including Rathajatra, Doljatra, Jagaddhatri Puja, and Kali Puja, and even marked the birthdays and weddings of their pets with grandeur. Durga Puja, held in autumn, stood out as the most elaborate and significant. It provided affluent Bengali families with a chance to display opulence by hosting lavish gatherings and inviting prominent Europeans to their newly built mansions. Competition among them was fierce to showcase their wealth and status. For many of these families, Durga Puja was not just a personal celebration but also a means of cultivating relationships with British and other European residents who held positions of authority or influence, by which they sought to elevate their social standing and prosperity.
Upon initial publication, the Journal of Festive Studies included an incorrect affiliation for the author of this article, Monolina Bhattacharyya. We sincerely apologize for our mistake. The issue was addressed on January 2, 2025. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c438ef65aa084f7f9bc9b4a0cf8cc8b7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2641-9939 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Festive Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-c438ef65aa084f7f9bc9b4a0cf8cc8b72025-08-20T02:32:15ZengH-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences OnlineJournal of Festive Studies2641-99392024-12-01621423810.33823/jfs.2024.6.1.147120Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century CalcuttaMonolina BhattacharyyaIn eighteenth- and nineteenth-century urban colonial Calcutta, Hindu Bengali gentry celebrated numerous festivals at home, including Rathajatra, Doljatra, Jagaddhatri Puja, and Kali Puja, and even marked the birthdays and weddings of their pets with grandeur. Durga Puja, held in autumn, stood out as the most elaborate and significant. It provided affluent Bengali families with a chance to display opulence by hosting lavish gatherings and inviting prominent Europeans to their newly built mansions. Competition among them was fierce to showcase their wealth and status. For many of these families, Durga Puja was not just a personal celebration but also a means of cultivating relationships with British and other European residents who held positions of authority or influence, by which they sought to elevate their social standing and prosperity. Upon initial publication, the Journal of Festive Studies included an incorrect affiliation for the author of this article, Monolina Bhattacharyya. We sincerely apologize for our mistake. The issue was addressed on January 2, 2025.https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/147durga pujacolonial calcuttathakurdalancourtyardnautchnouveau richebabuszamindars |
| spellingShingle | Monolina Bhattacharyya Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta Journal of Festive Studies durga puja colonial calcutta thakurdalan courtyard nautch nouveau riche babus zamindars |
| title | Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta |
| title_full | Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta |
| title_fullStr | Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta |
| title_short | Ambition and Competition among Hindu Bengali Elites in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Calcutta |
| title_sort | ambition and competition among hindu bengali elites in eighteenth and nineteenth century calcutta |
| topic | durga puja colonial calcutta thakurdalan courtyard nautch nouveau riche babus zamindars |
| url | https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/147 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monolinabhattacharyya ambitionandcompetitionamonghindubengalielitesineighteenthandnineteenthcenturycalcutta |