Its Mahashashti today. And my blog post is being written from office. For the first time in my life, I am away from Kolkata during the Pujo. There are so many "first times" in one's life. But not all are pleasant. Like this one...
Sitting in my cubicle, miles away from the city of joy, I realise how much I miss it. The way the city gears up for the festive season is nothing but spectacular. The lights... the pandals... the sea of people pushing you down the aisle just to get a glimpse of the idol... the late night pandal-hopping... facing the terrific traffic jam for hours just to spend an hour in Maddox Square with a couple of old school friends... the Ferris Wheel of Deshapriya Park... walking from one corner of the city to another, in a pair of new shoes and ending up with terrible shoe bites... the pink candy floss (or burir chul as we better know it)... offering Anjali in saree on Ashtami morning... the late night addas without Mom getting annoyed... 4 days of pure bliss!!
Way back in school, the first feeling of Pujo was felt when my Bengali teacher used to give us an assignment of writing a paragraph on Sharatkal (Autumn) or DurgaPujo or maybe Amar Priyo Utsab (my favourite festival)... thats the time my Thamma or my Dadubhai used to help me write a beautiful write-up, quoting Tagore. And that added an extra flavour to the whole feeling.
And this year, i felt no remote signs of the festival arriving. No Kashphool on the sides of the roads, no pandals, no lights, no smelling the new pages of a Pujobarshiki, no whole day trip to New Market and coming back loaded with bags of new clothes.... :(Sitting in my cubicle, miles away from the city of joy, I realise how much I miss it. The way the city gears up for the festive season is nothing but spectacular. The lights... the pandals... the sea of people pushing you down the aisle just to get a glimpse of the idol... the late night pandal-hopping... facing the terrific traffic jam for hours just to spend an hour in Maddox Square with a couple of old school friends... the Ferris Wheel of Deshapriya Park... walking from one corner of the city to another, in a pair of new shoes and ending up with terrible shoe bites... the pink candy floss (or burir chul as we better know it)... offering Anjali in saree on Ashtami morning... the late night addas without Mom getting annoyed... 4 days of pure bliss!!
Way back in school, the first feeling of Pujo was felt when my Bengali teacher used to give us an assignment of writing a paragraph on Sharatkal (Autumn) or DurgaPujo or maybe Amar Priyo Utsab (my favourite festival)... thats the time my Thamma or my Dadubhai used to help me write a beautiful write-up, quoting Tagore. And that added an extra flavour to the whole feeling.
But I guess thats how Life is....
P.S : people who are my near and dear ones and who know the essence of Durga Pujo in Kolkata, might be sympathising with me... but don't worry, I am landing in my City Saptami night...!!! just couldnt bear to stay away from the city at this time of the year!!! :)
Linked to Let's Celebrate Durga Puja
hey appu..dnt miss so much sona...its very difficult for your parents too..for the first time they will not have you in the pujo.take care..with load of love and best wishes
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