First of all wishing all of you Shubh Bijoya Dashmi (Happy Dussehra).
Another puja ends and with that my excuses to bunk college too sadly comes to an end. This is the day when Bongs bid goodbye to their beloved Goddess Durga not with tears but with song, dance and masti.
According to legend. This is the day when the Goddess Durga slained the demon Mahishasura. Mahishasura had unleashed terror on heaven, earth and nether world. Seeing this the gods went to Brahma. Brahma was helpless as he himself had given the power to Mahishasura that no man could ever kill him. Brahma visited Vishnu and Shiva for help. On hearing the atrocities committed by Mahishasura they became very angry and a radiant yellow light emerged from their body. This yellow blinding light reached the Ashram of a priest known as Katyan. From the light emerged a Goddess whom we know as Durga. Thus Durga was born out of synergy.
Although I am a Bengali I have not yet visited Kolkata. The stories I have heard about Durga celebrations in Kolkata are amazing. It is said that more than two-thousand pandals are set up across the city to celebrate the puja. Load shedding takes place a month before in order to preserve electricity. Schools and colleges are closed for a month. Traffic becomes a nightmare, and most people abandon their vehicles to travel by foot.
In Mumbai too this festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm. There are many pandals across the city. This is the first time that my sister was not there with us. It made me realize why festivals are required; to celebrate togetherness.
Standing atop a lion , with a spear smeared across the chest of the demon, she is the epitome of elegance. For hours you can just stand there and admire her beauty. The ornaments, the crown, the long dark curly hair, the calm smile, she is the definition of unearthly beauty.
I love this festival because it gives me a chance to relive bengali tradition. When i was small my parents used to forcefully take me to attend Tagore functions because my sister used to be a participant. I used to make fun of it. The best part of this festival is definitely the Bhog that is served to everyone. The most amazing Khichdi you will ever have is at a Durga puja pandal and I can bet any amount on that. At nite starts the entertainment. I make it a point to go to pandals where the entertainment is free for everyone. Sadly there are some pandals that have become too commercial and ask for money. I strongly believe that such pandals are killing the very meaning of celebrating a social festival.
I do what every Bengali does during the pujas. Hop between pandals, stare with amazement at the idols, late nite travel, chat with people, eat mishti doi (yummy!!!!), and check out pretty bengali gals .
Although marriages are made in heaven they have to be decided on earth. Durga Puja provides an ideal platform for singletons to meet and spend time with each other. Some times these meetings blossom into love stories and end up in marriage.
The last day of this festival always leaves me with a lump in my throat. Why do I feel so attached to Durga? So close? Probably because she is like my mother. A 10 handed lion riding woman protecting me from the evil. The most beautiful woman in the world. What else could explain this feeling?
Durga puja is a reminder that good wins over evil, that family is important, that no matter what you can always find happiness, that different religions can exist in harmony and lastly, touching the feet of elders can get you a plateful of delicacies :)
