With the immaculate whiteness of the kaash flower and the gentle caress of the deep blue sky, the unparalleled autumn is now in nature. The festival of Durga Puja has begun in the homes of all the beloved friends and well-wishers of the Sanatan Hindu religion.
Today, in the sweet morning of clouds and rain, I was watching the Mahalaya program on television. In the solitude of my life abroad, the birds of memory come and attack me from time to time. Ignoring the busy morning, the Mahalaya program seemed to throw me into a piece of nostalgia and reminded me of those extraordinarily beautiful days when we shared the joy of Eid and Puja in our childhood and adolescence.
The Sarkar Kakus and Krishna Kakima, and their joint family, were the first tenants of our Majumdar House on Elephant Road in Dhaka. We used to live in two flats side by side on the ground floor. There was free movement between the two families. We had become relatives of each other’s souls through sincerity and love. Just as we celebrated Eid together, we also participated in the Durga Puja festival with Kakima’s family with great enthusiasm and excitement.
I remember during Mahalaya, early in the morning, Kakima and Sarkar Kakur Ma Didi would wear new sarees and go to the puja. On that day, no non-vegetarian food was cooked in their house. But what delicious vegetarian food they had! We, from the neighboring house, were always welcome guests for those delicious dishes.
From Shashthi to Dashami, all the puja days, we would also be busy celebrating like Kakima’s family. Kakima explained the special prayer, Bodhon, on Shashthi day in detail. Kakima’s special khichuri and begun bhaja on Shashthi day were like nectar. Even now, I can still smell it in the air of my memory.
On Dashami, sometimes Kaku and Kakima would take all of us to visit various puja mandaps in Dhaka. But for me, the most attractive part of Durga Puja was two things – one was the puja sankhya magazines that Kaku and Kakima would gift to my mother. I would also get beautiful gifts from Kakima. But my mind and eyes would always be on those puja sankhyas. My immense love for puja and Eid issues continues to this day.
Another thing about puja is still written in gold in my mind. Although I wasn’t such a foodie, I will never forget the taste of the homemade puja delicacies prepared by Kakima and her family.
My aunt and uncle, along with their entire family, were always busy preparing a wide variety of dishes during festivals. Coconut ladoo, kheer batasa, date palm fritters, intricately designed pitha, pranahara, sandesh, chhanamukhi, and countless other delicious sweets filled our home. And who could forget the luchi? Oh, how I miss those days of fluffy luchi served with aloo dum, aloo posto, and rui kaliya.
When my aunt would bring out the beautifully arranged food on gleaming golden brass plates, a unique aroma would spread throughout the house. The taste was simply divine, and the presentation was truly artful.
Our Bengali culture is deeply rooted in hospitality, and this is reflected in our tradition of celebrating festivals with delicious food.
As I write about Durga Puja, memories of Eid celebrations with my parents during my childhood come flooding back. I remember my father returning from morning prayers and sitting down with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and siblings to enjoy the delicious Eid feast prepared by my mother. The joyous atmosphere of that Eid feast still resonates in my heart. That’s how we spent our childhood and adolescence.
As I flip through my old photo album today, my mind wanders back to the days of my women’s hostel. Room number 22 of the Mymensingh Medical College Ladies Hostel was where my dear friend and roommate Bani and I had our beds side by side, almost touching. We stood by each other through the tough times of medical school, and shared our joys and celebrations together. We celebrated both Puja and Eid together throughout our long hostel life.
During prayer times, one of us would be standing in prayer while the other would be performing Puja. It was an extraordinary moment that still shines brightly in my memory. Even today, when I visit her in New York, Bani and Pranoy Dada carefully prepare a prayer space for me. When I stand for Maghrib prayer, I can hear the aarti bell ringing from Bani’s prayer room.
In this way, with mutual respect, love, and honor, we have carefully upheld the flag of communal harmony for generations.
Warmest wishes and blessings to all on this Sharad season.
Toronto, Canada
