knowing spirit of Godess Durga

Living the Pujo Spirit

When I thought of writing something on the occasion of Durga Pujo, I was enlivened by mere fact of writing something. This, I guess, happens to each and every Bengali. Oops! I think to everyone around, who associate with Maa Durga irrespective of the dialect he or she speaks.

Isn’t that a strange thing to come across? I mean how this festival has never been a festivity of religious norms and further…it is much beyond a religious harangue/obligation that youngsters keep away from or atleast try so. Not with this one though; we are blessed to know it as a festival that is our Right but a ceremony to be performed every autumn.

Since childhood, it has been a festival that begins from Mahalaya (the invocation ritual to bring Maa back to Earth from Kailash) turning on the spirit of Durga Pujo at once. Buying new clothes and segregating the same as per number of occasions is one statement Bengalis wear on their sleeves. But imagine do we actually recognize who is celebrating the festival in true sense. Of course “we”, many would shout but I think the festival begins from the dhakis; decorating their dhaks and preparing them so that they express our trepidations fluently. There are many symbols of how this festival isn’t about a Maa Durga alone, and you know that. The truth is – we relate Durga Pujo with every little thing we do. The important things i.e. all about, all those small instances that fills our heart with joy, we tend to realize only when the Pujo arrives.

Bengalis react vehemently. They have so much to do, in less time and all in ill order; never sure what to do, and what not. Grown up in Delhi, I’ve experienced the Kolkata flavour too a many times during this festival. Amazingly, people express in different manner and that’s perfectly right at its place. But one thing common which I want to bring your focus on and have noticed that people tend to forget to carry forward the “happiness & spirit” Pujo brings to us. Why it is such short lived? Just ask for the answer.

This time around, try that you, continue to carry on the buzz of this festival along with you all-round-the-year till next time, when there will be an opportunity to quantify it. May we are all blessed with that wish in this festival of fervour.

(Wrote for the Puja Brochure 2006 for Dwarka Sector 14 Agomoni Samiti)