Maa Durga, see you in 2014

(15 Oct 2013)

Wishes, they say, have wings. We want all the good things of things good and bad. We want the best of both the worlds. That’s you, I and us.

The last few days had everything that could make me the happiest guy in town and also soon see me beginning the countdown for next year’s Durga Puja. There was miles and miles of sometimes aimless driving, there were friends, fun and frolic, there was pandal hopping, there was ‘pushpanjoli’ (yes I did that!), there was yummy ‘bhog’, there were two birthday parties hosted by two lovely friends, there were two baby-companions. And there was some quality wine!

Gargi and I have gone places – quite literally so – over the last three editions of Durga Puja. Kolkata in 2011 was our first Puja together after marriage, and Gargi was superbly excited to participate in the ‘sidur khela’ after gaining ‘eligibility’ to do so. Gargi’s first overseas Puja was going to be Melbourne in 2012. It was a sea of new experiences for us and we drove home cherishable memories. Bangalore, as it was this year, has been very different, pretty hectic and extremely fulfilling. The ‘Saptami’-special lunch at Bhajahari Manna in Koramangala had the elements to clean bowl the best batsman in the world. I plan to go back there soon, asking them to serve me THAT mutton curry only. I want to again search for the SORRBA puja all along the Sarjapur Road and still not be able to get there. I want ‘protima-lover’ Premangshu to drive my car again with Gargi sitting back and Tanmoy chasing us in his papaya orange Nano – Tathagata, Maitri and her parents all following the Hyundai beauty’s indicators. I failed to do it this year, and that’s why I want to count next year how many times Tanmoy calls us ‘Haridas’ for failing him with the map. I want to again circle R T Nagar and hit the temple where there would be no Puja. I plan to re-visit the BTM Layout pandal to see a new-born Bangla music band perform. I’ll be happy to order fish fry at the Puja ground and be served rohu fish fry just because someone would run out of ‘bhetki’ fish.

I want to hear stories of the little Kiu mistaking Durga’s lion for a dog and passing marching orders to it to ‘go home’. I wish to spend another day at Puja pandals with Kiu’s lovely parents and enjoy their mesmerizing company. I will long for Tathagata to manage a round of sound sleep amid the high-decibel sound of the ‘dhaak’. I will wait for Gargi to snatch the camera off me and go on a shooting spree all around the pandal at Ulsoor. Maitri will keep me waiting for a year to see her participate in all the fun holding the little Tathagata by his hips.

Sad but true, Durga Puja 2013 is over. All the great moments will now have to pause for a year. This is perhaps what closely protects the exclusivity of the grandness of the festival. This is after all what unites Bengalis like nothing else does. Durga Puja is worth waiting for. 

See you in 2014.