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.....