Searching the spectacular 14

Bengalis, don’t know whether special or not, are a specie of a different kind. Today while coming to office, I encountered a special occasion. My mother along with her Bengali accomplices in the colony will identify that they all possess 14 different varieties of edible green leaves that need to be cooked together during the day prior to Diwali and eaten with rice – our staple diet. Ya, fish is too. Anyway, yesterday she was able to gather half the number she actually needed. I think she got herself Spinach, Green Onion, Corriander, Bathua, Muli ka Saag, Sarson and Red Spinach. Today, a lot of exchanges will take place. The difficulty is – not all varieties are available in the market. So what to do? They will roam around the colony and pick the green ones from the gardens, whichever applicable.

The whole idea seemed a juvenile type. Just like the way kids ensure that they are not loosing on to something others possess, ladies would be out doing the same though in a more harmonious manner. This ritual has been carried on for long. The same day, 14 diyas will be lit as well as the auspicious number (considering Lord Rama’s return from exile after 14 years).

Yet, the significance of eating 14 different varieties of leaves seems pointless unless one is anaemic! So many years have gone by but I never bothered to ask her about its significance. I am quite curious now to know where the whole idea fits in our life apart from being sensitive to environment and going green in our approach. Well, seems Green Diwali is on!!!