Pujo Ascha

Kash Phool

Navratri or Durga Puja one of the greatest religious festival for Hindu religion and when we say it as Durga pujo for bengali community then we get goosebumps with full of excitements. In Bengali terms we spell it "Pujo Ascha". In west Bengal pujo ascha means there will be long holidays for schools , government offices , colleges for a long term of about 10 to 12 days. This is the most awaited festival for Bengali.

soroter akash

 Pujo ascha means we have to buy new dresses for all of our loved ones , jewelry , shoes etc. It is one of the most expensive festival of Bengal that here the businessmen makes triple profits in just one month which they can't make in the whole year .The beauty of pujo starts one month before the pujo, the white clouds like cotton balls is floating on the deep blue sky we call it “Soroter Akash”. The Kans grass or “Kash Phool” in Bengali on every corner of roads, railway tracks, rice fields and ponds enhancing the beauty of this month by reminding happily that the festive season is just about to begin. The giant puja pandals has started erecting the pandals around the city and the city and young people from our colony has started collecting puja donation from every houses and every vehicles passing by the local roads, these young people are also promoting the theme of the puja pandals so that many people visit to see the idols Goddess durga and most importantly the theme of pandal so that they can fetch a most beautiful/creative pandal reward trophy. Pujo asche means people who will get long holidays are planning to make a short trip around the country and abroad, and people who are staying abroad and out of town are reserving their tickets to get back and stay at home in those four important beautiful days.

 Pujo asche means full of shopping list for the entire family .This weekend we went for street shopping around Chinsura and Esplanade. The malls, street shops and footh paths on weekends are overcrowded in this season and the chaos from everywhere and the only few conversations of people were echoing in my ears are “dada oita din”, “dada oita koto dam”, “dada alada colour nei?”, “dada holud colour dakhan”, “na thik pochondo hocche na”. Well, at every corner there is a new model of dress , the lights sparkling from the jewellery shops are attracting the girls more. From sharees to shoes, watches, smartphones, jeweller, or any item, there is an offer banner with a tagline “Pujo Offer” for everyone and the malls are using lucky coupon schemes to attract more customer. But sadly we saw a lots of people who came up from far away who could not afford any new dress for their children, it was an corn seller, I asked him dada, kena kata hoye gache? He replied me “No Sir, even I could not afford to gift new dresses to my child on this year” . After all this I asked myself “Money or life which is the most important things?” and I think, both are parallely important.

Puja Street shopping

 Pujo asche means we have to look good in every way that is possible, the best looking dress to stay attractive and unique in the crowd, extra glow on skin as people are busy pampering their skin. People are also maintaining weight to look good on what they wear, I have gained a massive weight in the last few months and I weight around 85 kg but sorry I can not control this because I am a foodie.

 Well Mahalaya is just a week away and the beauty is to wake up at 4.00 AM early morning and listening to the “Mahisashur Mardini” on All India Radio, its great popularity remains undiminished even today 86 years later. On morning witnessing the chokkhu daan on the idol Goddess Durga is one of the most beautiful things on the day of Mahalaya.

 Festivals are the important part of our life, as Durga Puja is here and Diwali is just knocking the door and to intensify the happiness there will be gifts, foods, dress etc, but it is the sense of belongings that connect us with each other during festivals. Festivals are the reasons to bring family and friends together.and celebrate the very spirit of mankind. Its the festival so sort out some time and spend with family, friends and the people you love.Believe me, festivals are the one of the opportunities to bring people close. Wish you all happy Durga Puja/Navaratri.