Durga Puja





Down the memory lane, I do not remember when I was introduced to or encountered Devi Durga, the deity with her 'grown up' kids. However absence of her husband the Lord Shiva and her fighting posture, killing 'Mahisasurah' was bit disturbing. As her sons 'Ganesh' and ' Kartick' were seemingly strong and powerful. What came to our mind ,why she should fight whe both of her sons were present. They were supposed to be able enough to fight evil the 'Mahisasurah' and save their mother from embarrassment of knocking down the "Mahisasura' . Despite of this Goddess Durga was quite popular and welcome figure for us. In Bengali community, Goddess Durga becomes a part of our life ever since we are born. From our childhood to manhood, she remains our Goddess, bestowing her blessings for wealth, fame, beauty and power. At least they carried meaning for our generation or the older. I still remember, my mother cautioning me about the virgin young girls, as they all were Durga in human form. So anything to disturb them or any innuendo towards losing their honor would fetch the curse of Goddess Durga. That refrained us from looking at budding beauties, the way they should be looked at. Not that we lost our best opportune time, so did they ; I realized that much latter.

Being born in a lower middle class family at a small industrial town,so far my memory goes, I remember Durga Puja was an occasion for us in childhood to have the pleasure of wearing new dresses sans new shoes as they botched up blisters. The most welcome factor was we were not asked to study or take care of home-tasks during those four days of celebration. It was a great relief for us. Otherwise, the Puja hardly carried any meaning for us in true sense. As the riches in those days, as of now, took special meals, visiting various Puja pandals, offer ‘Puspaanjali’ (as they had the freedom to move around by their cars or motor cycles etc.). For us except firing the toy-pistols and making few rounds around local Puja pandals and sometime with little extra to spend, enjoying the ‘chats’ like ‘Ghugni’ or ‘Fuchka’; there was nothing more. But still we have been looking for Durga Puja for the freedom of four days throughout the year. Goddess Durga ushered to us as our liberator from daily routine life.

Latter in late 60s or early 70s when we joined colleges, the ‘Puja’ lost its further significance, as we lost the faith in Goddess Durga. It became a matter of celebration like any carnivals elsewhere. The new dresses, to mark the occasion, those of us could afford used to buy but never wore. As some of us could not afford them. So uniform dress code could only be maintained when we were together, wearing usual dresses. Later when some of us got married early, they used to wear new dresses while accompanying their wife, in a ritualistic manner to mark the occasion.

Gone are those days, and perhaps those fellow feelings now. Is there anyone to remember those old days?

टिप्पणियाँ

एक टिप्पणी भेजें

इस ब्लॉग से लोकप्रिय पोस्ट

Had a Party last night?

Occasions offering family or friend’s get-together always used to be welcome events to me earlier but not so any more these days. I remember any occasion like marriage, thread-ceremony or any social party thrown for insignificant issues were awaited affairs for the D day. I used to get thrilled with the idea of meeting those whom I met years ago. It was matters of pleasure to find them again. No one bothered to ask what others are doing or how they are keeping. Just we were alive and had a chance to meet, that was enough. Meeting means going down the memory lanes, remembering some incidents or days we enjoyed or suffered together. The pains we felt at the time of parting was visible in eyes. Gone are those days!! I know not how many would share my view but now-a-days I feel lonesome in most of the get-togethers; may be this curse is prevailing in metros like Kolkata, Mumbai or Delhi . Where people seek business in pleasure and tend to remain in their own lobby for social or material
और पढ़ें

At last I could talk to my Father !!

His face was as fresh as it used to be on any other morning after shave. Only difference it was dry not wet as usually face looks after shaving. The eyes were closed, the lips bore faint smile; as if he was enjoying a dream during his sleep. A close look would reveal; no, it was not freshly shaved countenance; the tiny gray hairs shoot out all over the face; as they look in the evening; long after you shave in the morning. Why the shaving is so important! Well no one ever remembers seeing him unshaved even if when he used to be sick for long time. That was he; my father; lying on the stretcher mounted on a vehicle that carries dead. This was his last journey on wheels. He preferred bicycle and was very fond of paddling up and down to the Railway factory where he worked for more than 35 years. I felt he would have been happy, could I arrange a cycle rickshaw for his last ride. In a city like Kolkata, you know it was difficult to arrange or in that matter it would been very difficult to
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