The last few days before the puja
O dont even ask. the committee members are going crazy with the arrangements. the best part of it is this year, we have the junior members playing crucial roles in the committee. whats more interesting is the serious looks on their young faces as they go about collecting funds, talking to the pandal-man or the flower guy or the fruit vendor. i am sure they can handle things better than their elder counterparts. i see sincere dedication there on those faces.
on the personal front, it was nice to see about 10 members or more coming over at our place to ask for chanda. dad is an ex-secretary of the committee and therefore each year, he is the unofficial advisor. this year, he has been asked to handle the flower and the fruit section of the puja besides the usual advisor bit.
the children are busy preparing small dances and skits for SHASHTI evening. the pandal is near about completion. dhaki will come in by "PANCHAMI".
All the aunties and girls are busy doing last minute shopping. i will also go once my brother returns home for the puja holidays. will give you a day-wise account of the events.
stay with me on this one. i promise you wont be bored. for those who are not aware of durga puja celebration, i will explain all.
Mahalaya: September 29, 2008.
Literally saying, the Mahalaya heralds the beginning of the nine-day puja followed by vijay dashami on the tenth and final day. for bengalis, however, the actual celebration begins from the seventh day onwards and ends with the immersion of Devi Duga's idol.
Mahalaya is the day when we learn or rather remember how goddess Durga had slain the evil Mahishasur symbolising victory of good over evil forces. Although the story of Durga and Mahishasur is imbibed in a person from the very childhood, yet we sit each year for this day to see the story once again and hear the mahalaya rendition by Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra. On this day too, the sons of the family pay their reverence to their departed parents after a dip in the Ganga. the ceremony is known as "Tarpan". My mamas do that each year.
I must say that no amount of updated technology enabling us to listen to the commentary or view the dance drama 'n' number of times, can even compare itself to the nostalgia and the anxious wait for this day. I saw and heard the commentary of mahalaya today morning at 4 am and felt goosebumps like all other years.
Hooray! Durga Puja is here!!
