Mahalaya, Durga Puja, price rise et al.

Those of you, who have never woken up on a Mahalaya morning without the radio turned on in its full volume and the eternal hyms chanted by Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra, I am sure you feel the same way as I do. That hymn of 'Mahishasuramardini' has got something in it. You play it on any other day,and you would not like it....and if it is not played, it feels like you have not heralded the Puja properly.

Bengal is gearing up for its four day annual show. These four days, we will choose to forget about the Commonwealth... ( Kalmadiwealth), that the state is witnessing an imminent change of power baton from Buddha to Mamata, that there has been a bumper crop of Sugar and yet the price is soaring high at Rs. 31/ Kg, that three best men in the world of Economics sharing prominent portfolios ( Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, and Montek S Ahluwalia) have been taking turns since past one year telling that the sky rocketing price of commodities will go down, and it still has not and the Food price index is touching an unpreceedented 16%!

Its time to spend what you have saved up for the past one year to get the best and be at your best. Its time to indulge in a beauty therapy so that you look good during those four days, to have food at the restaurants where you otherwise would not have the money power to step in, to hang out with friends whom you dont get to meet, to cough up more money on anything, knowing fully well that you are being overcharged, and yet, keep that benign smile on your face. Ladies and Gentleman! Brothers and sisters, please welcome, Durga Puja - Bengalee's greatest show on the earth. Those who call themselves 'Prabashi Bengalee' and sneer at the dirty, dingy, chaotic Kolkata, somewhere deep within, I know, atleast for once, you would think...." If ..!" during these four days.

Its time for everything Good and New. New clothes, shoes, jewellery (Attn: my wealthy brothers and sisters!),bags, perfumes ( as if one does not smell rotten during the entire year!).... and many many many things, that human rationality would banish otherwise to buy, would defy all logic and place themselves in your kitty with pride.

This time I could not decide where to buy clothes from. Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, Fab India all have lost their steam. I find them either overpriced, or lacking in ideas. I thought of going to Prapti once, but this rain has marred everything. Its good to see rain from my window with my roof gardern at the backdrop, but to go out in this rain, get my feet submerged in mud and muck did not seem like a good idea.

That reminds me, how some 15 years back, I ensured that I have a ready clothing line to sustain for these 4 days. One less in number, and I used to be so sad! The clothes would have their classification. The best and the most costly being saved for Ashtami ( the eighth day from now) and gradually the order would follow - Nabami, Saptami and Sasthi. The least costly and attractive would be used on Sasthi. There is an unwritten tradition in the way we have food these four days. Strange to many of my friends hailing from East Bengal, till date on an Ashtami, either at home or outside I have never eaten non - veg! I grew old, my mom no longer polices around what I do, what I eat outside home, and yet, I do not eat non veg on an Ashtami.

(Mom, I have never defied you on this one yet!:)

On Saptami, we usually have Fish and on Nabami Mutton has always been the way of life. Dashami, usually ends with Payesh ( Kheer). Taken out of context, this tradition has always made me laugh, but during those four days, it never falls out of place.

Its time to make exclusive plans for hanging out as well. Friends ( With no one else to spend time with, but me) have already called up! Sasthi is booked for pandal hopping and a dinner that has been postponed since time immemorial. On Saptami, I have plans to go out with Ma and family and Ashtami and Nabami I have still kept on the parking lot. Its time to ready the camera as well, and if the Weather God does not play spoilsport, I plan to click some photos.

The only bonus of being a Teacher are these long vacations! Its time to unwind, time not to work and idle away with books, newspapers, FM radio, and just do nothing!

For those of you who would venture outside Calcutta to Sikkim, Digha Puri, Darjeeling, Kerala, and wherever in the world you choose to go, these four days, I will pray for you all....May Devi Durga help your soul, freshen up your body and bring back sanity to your mind, so that next time onwards, you do not committ the same mistake of stepping outside this city. Because, these four days, the same,muck filled, polluted, congested, bandh ridden Calcutta.... celebrates LIFE like never before.

MAY MAA DURGA BLESS US ALL!!!