There was a time when Diwali among kids in our family was synonymous with crackers, new dresses and home made gourmet delicacies. Preparations would begin a week earlier soon after the memories of Durga Puja would start fading away from our minds. My sister and me, finding a good reason to bunk studies, would start shopping for dresses and crackers and soon would be joined by super enthusiastic cousins thus doubling the fun!! The festive atmosphere brought along with it a feeling of closeness and belonging in our family and Diwali eve was celebrated with much pomp, show and merriment.
This year, I expected Diwali to be a demure one. Yes of course, since I was more than a 1000 Kilometres away from my home but also to add to my woes, I had just come back from a long holiday in my hometown, which had duly resulted in tons of work piling up. But as usual, all these didn’t prove to be a stimulus strong enough to make me work in the Diwali weekend. Instead, I was over enthused to celebrate Diwali in a gaudy way.
To make it a success, I called up my friends to plan. But, believe it or not, my cricket loving friends had planned to watch the T20 Champions League match live on Diwali eve!!! By default I was included (the tickets were already bought too) and then there was no “ctrl+Z” to the plan allowed here!!! One can definitely imagine my miserable state knowing how much I hated Cricket and the fact that I knew so little about any other player other than India’s top favourite ones who are better known for their endorsements. Thus unable to restructure any part of the plan, I joined the merry group on Diwali eve, to watch the live match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
The crowd inside the stadium was enormous and soon after verifying that the teams playing were Bangalore Royal Challengers and Delhi Dare Devils, I made myself comfortable at my seat. To our convenience, the seats were close to the ground and we could get a clear view of the players. Slowly as the game progressed, the surrounding became livelier with people cheering continuously and fireworks emerging from every side of the stadium roof illuminating the sky on completion of an over. Even though I couldn’t catch up on every detail of the match, I cheered with my friends on every six or four. Our voices had become hoarse with shouting. Soon I was immersed in a merriment I had never imagined myself to be in. It was really a feast to the eyes watching the colourful crowd, the well coordinated and beautiful cheerleaders, and the amazing panorama of the zillion sparks sent up to the sky by the fireworks. Really the spectacle was worth in a Diwali night!!
The night ended with Bangalore Royal Challengers winning over Delhi Dare Devils which increased the mirth and gaiety of the crowd. More fireworks engulfed the sky and trumpets were blown as people madly enjoyed the win. After we returned home overtly exhausted and happy, I felt really grateful to my friends and owed this awesome and breathtaking Diwali celebration to them who despite my repeated nagging had the patience to bear with me and cajole me into spending the Diwali eve this “unusual” way.
About Me
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Rendezvous with Ma Durga
This post is not related to my stay in Bangalore, neither is about any significant incident in my life.It only wishes to enlighten some of you who are unaware of the ever hyped Durga Puja which is the most awaited festival for the Bengalis all over the world.
Bengali's Durga Puja is tantamount to Christmas for the Christians.It is a time of the year when relations are reignited,friendship is reinvented and long forgotten birth places are revisited.Each year this precious four days of the Pujas are eagerly awaited.Bengalis all over the world specially those who are oppurtune enough to stay in Pashchim Bangla(West Bengal) start making preparations about 2 months before,to have a gala time with friends and relatives during the Pujas.One can see numerous puja pandals being set up in various parts of the state (and also elsewhere across the nation,though the numbers there are few compared to our Bangla) with men working day and night puffing and panting to create an unique edifice for the Goddess.The clothing and fashion industry tries to make the maximum profit during this time of the year since buying new dresses for friends and family is a ritual during the Pujas.
The scene in a standard bengali home is even more interesting.Aroma of delicacies made with coconut and jaggery prepared by ma and mashis linger in the homes enriching the “Pujo” atmosphere.Houses are neatly decorated and illuminated with lights and soon relatives start pouring in one by one.They are greeted with much pomp and show and showered with gifts already bought about a month ago.There's a smile in every face and a beat in every step.....
After the welcoming of Goddess Durga and her children(Lakshmi,Saraswati,Ganesh and Kartik) on day of "Shashti",the melodious beats from the “dhakis” on the early morning of "Saptami" is the harbringer of the real pujas.People clad in brand new dresses bought only for this occasion gather in front of pandals or mandirs to watch the priest perform the aarti of the Goddess.A very important custom mainly followed by all on "Ashtami" is the "pushpanjali".It is the act of showering of flowers to the Goddess as one prays to Her for success and opulance in life.Only after this,the fast kept by people on "Ashtami" is broken by eating the prasad which mainly comprises of fruits and sweets.
Nights during the pujas are most enjoyed. Loudspeakers roar with the latest Bollywood songs or in rare cases one can hear holy bengali songs being played in the pandals.Everyone dressed in their best throng the illuminated pandals to offer prayers to the Goddess.The roads leading to pandals are canopied with brilliant lights and are laden with stalls selling mouthwatering jalebis,samosas and chicken rolls.Balloon sellers make the place even more colourful with their wares displayed in full bloom.Merry go rounds and other games are set up to entertain children.The roads are over crowded with pandal hoppers and there's hustle and bustle every where.
The last day of the Pujas or the "Dashami" is the time when everyone calms down and a more sober show reigns.There's a sadness in every soul that "Maa Durga" will be gone for another 365 days leaving them with the same monotonous life that will soon begin once the pujas are over.Soon after few religious rituals and aarti ,the idol of the Goddess and her children are submerged in any nearby pond or lake as an act of "Bissarjan" and people with heavy hearts start chanting "asche bochhor abar hobe" meaning next year we are going to celebrate once again with the same enthusiasm and devotion.The puja may be considered over but the spirit of a true bengali is undying.Now its time to wish "Subho Bijaya" to one and all...a time to visit our elders and touch their feet and get their "Ashirvaad"...a time to unite with all friends and relatives again to celebrate the end of Pujas and share the happy memories of the four puja days.Its called "Bijaya Dashami".
Describing Durga Puja without the mention of the numerous delicacies prepared will be an offence.Various fish items are a gourmet’s delight during the pujas .Kachoris with different stuffings served with a wide variety of home made sweets and kheer are the favourite ones.Chicken and mutton curries reign supreme during “Nabami” after a strict vegetarian meal on “Ashtami” ,the most auspicious day of the Pujas.
Thus the Durga Puja ends after four days of hefty fun and frolic and with a bereaved heart and exhausted body one forcefully returns back to his normal lacklustre and hackneyed life. The Bengali's wait for the next Durga Puja thus begins again.....
Bengali's Durga Puja is tantamount to Christmas for the Christians.It is a time of the year when relations are reignited,friendship is reinvented and long forgotten birth places are revisited.Each year this precious four days of the Pujas are eagerly awaited.Bengalis all over the world specially those who are oppurtune enough to stay in Pashchim Bangla(West Bengal) start making preparations about 2 months before,to have a gala time with friends and relatives during the Pujas.One can see numerous puja pandals being set up in various parts of the state (and also elsewhere across the nation,though the numbers there are few compared to our Bangla) with men working day and night puffing and panting to create an unique edifice for the Goddess.The clothing and fashion industry tries to make the maximum profit during this time of the year since buying new dresses for friends and family is a ritual during the Pujas.
The scene in a standard bengali home is even more interesting.Aroma of delicacies made with coconut and jaggery prepared by ma and mashis linger in the homes enriching the “Pujo” atmosphere.Houses are neatly decorated and illuminated with lights and soon relatives start pouring in one by one.They are greeted with much pomp and show and showered with gifts already bought about a month ago.There's a smile in every face and a beat in every step.....
After the welcoming of Goddess Durga and her children(Lakshmi,Saraswati,Ganesh and Kartik) on day of "Shashti",the melodious beats from the “dhakis” on the early morning of "Saptami" is the harbringer of the real pujas.People clad in brand new dresses bought only for this occasion gather in front of pandals or mandirs to watch the priest perform the aarti of the Goddess.A very important custom mainly followed by all on "Ashtami" is the "pushpanjali".It is the act of showering of flowers to the Goddess as one prays to Her for success and opulance in life.Only after this,the fast kept by people on "Ashtami" is broken by eating the prasad which mainly comprises of fruits and sweets.
Nights during the pujas are most enjoyed. Loudspeakers roar with the latest Bollywood songs or in rare cases one can hear holy bengali songs being played in the pandals.Everyone dressed in their best throng the illuminated pandals to offer prayers to the Goddess.The roads leading to pandals are canopied with brilliant lights and are laden with stalls selling mouthwatering jalebis,samosas and chicken rolls.Balloon sellers make the place even more colourful with their wares displayed in full bloom.Merry go rounds and other games are set up to entertain children.The roads are over crowded with pandal hoppers and there's hustle and bustle every where.
The last day of the Pujas or the "Dashami" is the time when everyone calms down and a more sober show reigns.There's a sadness in every soul that "Maa Durga" will be gone for another 365 days leaving them with the same monotonous life that will soon begin once the pujas are over.Soon after few religious rituals and aarti ,the idol of the Goddess and her children are submerged in any nearby pond or lake as an act of "Bissarjan" and people with heavy hearts start chanting "asche bochhor abar hobe" meaning next year we are going to celebrate once again with the same enthusiasm and devotion.The puja may be considered over but the spirit of a true bengali is undying.Now its time to wish "Subho Bijaya" to one and all...a time to visit our elders and touch their feet and get their "Ashirvaad"...a time to unite with all friends and relatives again to celebrate the end of Pujas and share the happy memories of the four puja days.Its called "Bijaya Dashami".
Describing Durga Puja without the mention of the numerous delicacies prepared will be an offence.Various fish items are a gourmet’s delight during the pujas .Kachoris with different stuffings served with a wide variety of home made sweets and kheer are the favourite ones.Chicken and mutton curries reign supreme during “Nabami” after a strict vegetarian meal on “Ashtami” ,the most auspicious day of the Pujas.
Thus the Durga Puja ends after four days of hefty fun and frolic and with a bereaved heart and exhausted body one forcefully returns back to his normal lacklustre and hackneyed life. The Bengali's wait for the next Durga Puja thus begins again.....
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