Festive Halo

Recursive celebration leaves behind insignificant memories of ample significance to be relished in future. Those were junior school days. The first high-hill shoes gifted the year we traveled to Kashmir during the Puja vacation is very vivid in mind. The blood red platform shoe that boosted height by two inches, slept by me for a few nights. That was innocent belonging-ness. The.The flowing 'Diana-gown', which Rini wore on the Astami night the year Diana got married to Prince Charles, was the first taste of what is call trend. The dance drama that was hosted in the community club during one such Panchami evening was the first public performance. Shampa Kakima and her husband organized the cultural program. Photography was just turning colorful those days.They were a few small happenings but great memories on the album. Each photo had a story beyond faces and names.

As youth engulfed, Durga Puja was a window to make new friends, catch up or occasionally iron out differences with old ones and become best friends. It was a freedom time. Special edition of popular magazines made its way to the reading table. Munnu’s father had a gramophone record player. Growing years visited their place to hear new songs released by HMV on such puja evenings. Small town was also flourishing and adopting new ways of community life. We swamped in the richness of time. Hopped pandal to pandal in Mark II Ambassador cars, tasted unbound roadside food and made social connect more than usual. Many such connects matured over years to relations with a purpose.

Life moves on and we move along. Many roads pursued, many flyovers built, many identities changed. Its twenty years since I first witnessed the city of joy decking up for the celebration. Several years now have seen the festive quotient rise and wave out with Durga Puja. Today the city had more cars than its designed for. I fail to name all models and Ambassador is history. So had been the transformation of celebration. Para Puja, big budget puja, theme puja, green puja, celebrity puja, apartment complex puja… they are all means to bundle the community joy on the ground that the goddess creates for five days at a stretch. Home coming of goddess is always heartwarming. Each home has more than one problem to solve within the four walls; however the enlightenment, levels all the pains for the sake of celebration. In the midst of overrated and branded world of change, her persistent beauty comes forth to show not all needs to change.

The alert message pops up. Friends keep sharing digital copy of goddesses being worshiped across all longitudes and latitudes. A few took vacation, images of snow clad Switzerland and sand smudged Rajasthan all unite in the smart phone picture folder. In less than two decades the world has become very close, courtesy technology. The omnipresent world is moving with you and waiting for your click. Rini’s new profile picture with Sindoor all over her forehead proclaimed they have celebrated Dashami in US last weekend.  She is still so trendy. Shampa Kakima is beyond all time zones. Fairly recall her tender hand holding. Munnu is a happy home-maker. Her vocal presentation on Saptami nights' cultural evening this year got super likes on the virtual album. 

The Dhaki's took a break, as the Sandhi Puja just got over.. The Nabami crawled in quite fast. Another year-long wait for the clock to tick the mega celebration for Bengali’s will begin soon. In the world where we are alone in virtual crowd she comes forth to show the beauty of togetherness. The chorus in the air – “Ashe bochor abar hobe!!”, keeps behind the truth of yester moments and evokes promises for tomorrow. 

Touch and Glow

With festive season in full swing with 'fresh and new' apparel , food, travel plans, every mind in my country is in upbeat mood. Count down has begun at Eastern India ...para lanes are gearing for Durga-Utsob. Apparel shops and beauty parlours are reaping money.

Late in the afternoon, the other day it was all by surprise when the door bell beeped, I opened to see an old time friend of my father at the door step. He was Dasgupta uncle for me. Meeting him after a while. Yes, he didn't look the same that I had in my mental record. Lost most of his hair and the remaining were grey, broken jaws suggested he had paid enough to dentist. As one grows old, meeting old time friends and refreshing old memories are probably the best gift one can have for oneself.

Unfortunately his friend was not at home and I tried my best to render a hospitality that my father would have offered. Have not listened to anyone for such long in recent past. His only son, who was Titas for us, is well settled in US - a dream that he had seen two decades back. He spoke of web cam , gtalk - that keeps him connected to his only son and grand kids. Life moves on and how quickly technology fits in our life-style.

I thought every thing was great till I heard him say - " It was 15 years back that Titas had step out for States to do his MS; it was two days before the Durga Puja celebration that year."

After a long monologue, he paused for a while. I could sense the correlation that he has between this season of festival and a deep feeling of detachment with his only son.

We had a cup of tea together. The evening was moving to dusk. It was time that he started for his home. I slipped in my chappals (home sandals) to take him down the steps from my third floor apartment to the car that was parked outside.

- "Nice car uncle!" , I remarked to make him happy as he moves on.

- "Titas gifted this three years back." He spoke of it an hour back , but must be feeling proud as a father to reiterate once more. I thought!

The engine was put on first gear and ready to roll when he unwind the glass pane and stretched his hand which provoked me to lend mine.

- "This evening was so fresh and new! Thank you for this wonderful gift.Felt like spending one with Titas. I would call your father sometime later." This was all he said, rest was communicated over the strong bonded hands of a lonely father desperately seeking connection with his next generation.

Gyan# 24 - Festival is all about being with near and dear ones - no celebration is beyond that.