I am a Bengali born and raised in Jharkhand..in a small city of Jamshedpur also lovingly known as Tatanagar, hence my unabashed love and loyalty to anything that has the Tata logo on it..Tea Salt Car Father :)
Also i am a true to the gut, talkative, loud, food loving , literature loving Bengali and you know what happens to such kind of people during Durga Pujo.
They go on a Sugar rush..of being a Bengali, of missing home.this post will be a little into the Bengali language so bear with me please.
For me Pujo means memories , it means celebration, good food, dressing up in your finery, spending time in the Pandal, looking at other women and making a mental note of getting a saree like that, big red bindis, Shakha Pola, Robindro Sangeet and i want to create memories for Keya. I ahve always been into Hip Hop music, Vodka Shots and date nights , and perhaps i would not mind Keya being as wild and notorious. But i want her to love what she is, respect her family members who have given her an identity, love the culture she is being raised in and create her own likes and silikes and maybe make her own memories.
So today morning was Mahalaya, a day which is marked as the day Godess Durga leaves the mountains and travels down to earth to visit her maternal home. It marks the beginning of Durga Puja. As a child i remeber Ma waking up early morning, turning on the radio and tuning in to listen to a special "Paath" recited by Birendra Krishna Bhadra. The sound of the shlokas, the voice of the neighbourhood aunties talking to each other from the balconies and windows, the sound of Mas bangles in the kitchen as she rolled the luchis, the splutter of dry red chillies in the smoking mustard oil,the slight chill in the air, the sheer excitement of waking up at 5..these are my moments of celebrations.
Staying away from home, being married i have tried to create the same memories in our house. So yesterday afternoon i was scrubbing the kitchen clean , removing cobwebs, watering and polishing the plants, all the while G saying "stop doing everything at on go". But i did. So today when i woke up at 5 and switched on the TV, i knew this is my opportunity to create memories for Keya. To make her realize 18 years from now that home is the best place to celebrate, and even though she might color her hair purple and yellow, she will always be her parents darling.
Shubho Mahalaya to all and wishing you a beautiful festive season ahead ..go on create memories ! and tel, me what are your favorites...
Also i am a true to the gut, talkative, loud, food loving , literature loving Bengali and you know what happens to such kind of people during Durga Pujo.
They go on a Sugar rush..of being a Bengali, of missing home.this post will be a little into the Bengali language so bear with me please.
For me Pujo means memories , it means celebration, good food, dressing up in your finery, spending time in the Pandal, looking at other women and making a mental note of getting a saree like that, big red bindis, Shakha Pola, Robindro Sangeet and i want to create memories for Keya. I ahve always been into Hip Hop music, Vodka Shots and date nights , and perhaps i would not mind Keya being as wild and notorious. But i want her to love what she is, respect her family members who have given her an identity, love the culture she is being raised in and create her own likes and silikes and maybe make her own memories.
So today morning was Mahalaya, a day which is marked as the day Godess Durga leaves the mountains and travels down to earth to visit her maternal home. It marks the beginning of Durga Puja. As a child i remeber Ma waking up early morning, turning on the radio and tuning in to listen to a special "Paath" recited by Birendra Krishna Bhadra. The sound of the shlokas, the voice of the neighbourhood aunties talking to each other from the balconies and windows, the sound of Mas bangles in the kitchen as she rolled the luchis, the splutter of dry red chillies in the smoking mustard oil,the slight chill in the air, the sheer excitement of waking up at 5..these are my moments of celebrations.
Staying away from home, being married i have tried to create the same memories in our house. So yesterday afternoon i was scrubbing the kitchen clean , removing cobwebs, watering and polishing the plants, all the while G saying "stop doing everything at on go". But i did. So today when i woke up at 5 and switched on the TV, i knew this is my opportunity to create memories for Keya. To make her realize 18 years from now that home is the best place to celebrate, and even though she might color her hair purple and yellow, she will always be her parents darling.
9 comments:
Sulagna,
Read 2 posts. Have you really cut your hair short? Do post a photograph. I am sure your little girl will be so proud of you for all you do for her.
Take care
Happy Durga Puja. Happy Navaratri.
hi Jack uncle..ya, i ahd cut my hair pretty short sometime abck..this post was in my drafts so got this published :) and coming from you, that Keya will be happy about what i do for her...is a real nice compliment :)
SG thanks :) i remember you guys also celebrate it really well at your home..had read a post two years back ..so wish you the same buddy :)
I know you have a cousin in the San Jose area. Next time you visit here please let us know. Would be delighted to host you. Elit by Stolichnaya is waiting for all of us.
SG the very mention of the name is getting me high and happy :)
Happy Pujo celebrations! A nice post and brought memories of my stay in Kolkata during these vibrant colorful times in the city!
This is Beautifull,splendid...I cud connect to each of it..nd eventually had tears by the time I read the last few lines..keep that coming...:)
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