DURGA PUJO – comes in every year to bring in the gift of life.

~ Sondher Aalo te, Misti Hashi, Ekta Sugran, Shankho Dhwani Te Bore Eelo Ma’er pran
Ponchami er bela te, mon ta ma’er jone osthir hoye othee.

Today, is panchami, as the Bengali community gears up to welcome the mighty Durga Ma, this year too would be special just like others. I’ve learnt with whatever little experience I have of living the grand festival that each Durga pujo brings in something new to life, a meaning or even a new beginning. Every time when Ma comes she brings in a miracle for everybody. For some it’s the sheer joy of celebrating this epic festival with families and friends, for some it’s the reconnect with the holy deity, some enjoy the glamour and the grandeur associated with it, some the simplicity, some are bowled over with the appearance of Durga ma, and some just lose themselves in her devotion. The list goes on.

But with years I’ve realized whenever Ma comes she brings in a small gift, at least that how I see it. Be it be strength to live a new life or the experience of the mystical Shimla Durga badi, the manifestation of the seed of photography or the realization of being responsible, gift of hosts of friends, the memoirs of those four-five days, adda and cha at 2.00am in the morning, sitting on chairs, saying nothing at all , dozing off but still not heading home, reuniting with school and college mates, surprises about their lives and realizing so much time has gone by yet the friendship continues like the fragrance of sandalwood. The long lists of dresses, what to wear when, coordinating with friends making sure no two people turn up in the same dress, hanging out in large groups and becoming the central point of discussion for the people around, trying out food from every stall, serving bhog, returning at 4 in the evening to step out at 7 again. No rest, no sleep just adda and fun. Underlying this lies the hidden facts of forgiving enemies, meeting lost friends, making new ones, starting new relationships, planting new memoirs, looking at your past as a bad dream and stepping forward for the new one, waking up everyday with the fragrance of Ma, dressing to welcome her, bowing in front of her with folded arms and feeling her warmth and love filling up your soul. Souls getting cleansed with the aroma of dhunochi and the melody of the dhak. Dancing for Ma, to express your affection, slowly losing yourself in the devotion, losing you rhythm, your rhyme to her song. The feeling of losing yourself to ma is so effervescent and enormous; it’s difficult to describe it in words. The glow and the aura makes you speechless, it’s divine.

Durga Pujo comes every year to bring in the gift of life with dhak er awaaz, dhunochi er sugran, misti khawa, sidhur khela.. And many more. Durga Pujo was special every year; let’s see what Ma how Ma makes it special this year.