Days of Maa..
With Durga Puja just around the corner, it will be the second time I am missing celebrations at home. Sweet nostalgia and hot khichdi made me remember subtle but specific details. From the smell of the fresh flowers during Onjoli to different para having their usual face-off for the best decorated pandal. Puja was the chance to meet old friends, talk about what we missed in each other’s life, roam around pandals and wonder how millions are captivated.
Being raised in a home where the local puja was just 2 mins away, one of my favourite activities was to observe day to day progress of our pandal. I tried to guess if the pandal would be completed on time or drag till Saptami, like last year! The excitement of hearing the Dhaks to that specific puja tune is unmatched. Dhaks playing the loudest on Shasthi evening meant its time to reveal the beautiful Murtis. Also puja is incomplete without the hymns by Birendra Bhadra which is on loop from Mohalaya itself.
Durga puja also meant a lot of competitions and performances for all ages. Main events through Soptomi and Oshtomi were art, singing and quiz contests. But my most favourite part of puja has to be the food! Streets, Restaurants, fast food joints-its packed everywhere. The jalebis is what I am missing the most now, certainly the best time to enjoy it. The hot khichdi during the humid afternoons after Oshtomi’s onjoli gave a different kind of bliss.
Novomi evening is undeniably the worst, feeling of the inevitable. Reality hits as Puja will soon end. Doshomi marks both the end and the start of the wait for another year. The streets now feel really damp and hollow, as if something is missing. The smell of incense and diyas take some time to completely wear off. The only thing cheering me up at this moment are some hot fluffy luchi and kaju barfi.
Durga Puja is kind of a milestone for me, a promise to my friends to meet next year again and reflect on how much we have grown. With this I end my nostalgic chapter, Happy durga puja to you and your loved ones!!
(someone send me jalebies please)
