R - The End of Another Chapter

Another page from my Diary, October 24, 2004.

October 24, 2004.

It all started on the 19 of this month ? the first day of Durga Puja,
one of the biggest religious festivals of India. The whole country
bursting with colours, pomp, ceremony, enthusiasm, and India could be
seen riding in top gear in this festive spirit. How can a country be in
top gear? Simple? because of the high spirit of the people.

Goddess Durga comes every year before us. Do you know who brings her in
her beautiful form in the pandals? It is 'WE" the people of this
country who want Her amidst us during this time of the year. The
artistic hands work to create the beautiful Goddess along with her
daughters - Lakshmi and Saraswati -- and sons - Ganesh and Kartik --
who flank the left and the right of their mother. Then of course the
Lion she rides on and Mahisasur the great Demon lying at her feet,
DEFEATED. This is the triumph of Good over Evil.

Durga Puja goes on for five days. The first day is Sasthi followed by
Saptami, Asthmi, Nabami and Dasami otherwise known as Dussera all over
the country. Starting from Saptami there is Puja in the pandals, strict
rituals are followed. This Puja is a very expensive affair. We have
community Pujas where donations flow in lakhs of Rupees to make it
possible for the committees to make run the community Puja with pomp
and ceremony.

Now-a-days only a few family Pujas exist as it a very expensive matter.
In community puja donation is collected, so it does not affect the
common man to part with a small amount of -- say a fifty rupee note or
a few hundreds or may be a thousand or so rupees -- for this religious
festival.

Markets BOOM with special offers, people rush in to make purchases of
luxury goods at discount rates at this time of the year. The
advertisement of different products find place in posters, banners and
hoardings all over the country. The whole country gets a festive look
with splashes of different colours to give it an Eye-catching
effect.

On all the four days of the Pujas, people come out, dressed in new
clothes, cover long distance and move from one Pandal to another to see
Ma Durga and enjoy the creativity of the artistic hands as the images
get a different touch from pandal to pandal. Huge sum is spent in
designing and constructing and lighting the pandals.

It is a very special occasion for the Bengalis. I remember, in my
younger days, I used to have new clothes for all the five days of the
Pujas, but now days are different with age and maturity. I think more
about my children, nieces, nephews, and the young ones in the family.
It is the time when we get a chance for all the members of the extended
family to come under a single roof, a rare chance in these days of busy
schedule.

The air around bustles with joy, excitement, merriment, meeting near
and dear ones ? and most important is the religious tide creating waves
in the minds of the people of this thickly populated country. No one is
left out. Not only the Hindus even the people who follow other
religions enjoy the magic touch of Durga Puja. In the western part of
India they enjoy Navratri, nine days of dancing and singing with the
religious touch.

On Dussera day, the effigy of Ravana --the demon god with ten heads --
is burnt amidst cheers from the onlookers. It is the day when Lord Rama
overpowered Ravana, and so this day is one when Good wins over
Evil.

Goddess Durga is Divine Mother. The four days have passed so quickly
and now the images from the pandals are on their way to be immersed in
the waters of the river. With this the entire festive gusto has come to
an end and we humans are again thinking of the next Durga Puja to come
next year, sometime at this time of the year, the almanac will read out
the date and time.

I did not enjoy my Pujas much this year. My two sons away at Delhi and
here this poor soul tied up to take rest with a nagging cold and fever.
Still went out to offer my prayers. I am recovering and within a day or
two I will be fit and fine.

It is time to say Happy Bijoya (Greetings) to all.

Dear friends Wish you all a very Happy Bijoya. What else can I give
you, a small good wish. Keep smiling till I catch you with my next Puja
greetings next year.

Smile from me. A smile from you will make me feel better. SMILE.