For every Bengali, Durga Puja is the most anticipated festival of the year. We eagerly await the four / five days of revelry, rituals, and family reunions. We started doing Durga Puja at home three years back; relatives and family members from across the country and NCR would visit us during this time, making it a grand family get-together. We cherish these gatherings, which beautifully blend tradition, family time, and worship. The excitement is palpable, with celebrations, family bonding, and worship of Maa Durga all coming together.
This Durga Puja, something amazing happened. My atheist elder son, whom I casually asked if he would be interested in coming home during Durga Puja, eagerly said yes, of course. Knowing how much he is missing home food and especially non-vegetarian food, I asked him to come over the previous weekend and leave on the day of Vijayadashami so I could treat him to some good food—read Nonveg in bold, before Puja begins as we move to vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
In my mind, I was happy, as I thought that’s what he came home for. But to my surprise, I saw him actively helping out with chores and even participating in different puja rituals occasionally if someone would ask him to.
I never insist on him participating in rituals that he doesn’t believe in, nor was I happy because he participated, and I thought he was having a change of mind—he was respecting the request of a senior relative, and that’s what brought a smile to my face—when did he suddenly grow up? And just when I thought, yahi bohot hai. On Vijayadashami, he was all ready to leave for the airport dressed up. Barely an hour left, our Dashami Puja ended, and I and others started removing the flowers and kalash, etc., and here comes my boy rolling up his sleeves to help with the cleaning up. What struck me was that he wasn’t just present; he was invested. For him, Durga Puja transcended spirituality; it was a vibrant socio-cultural exchange.
And I would actually like to believe that too. Durga Puja is much more than the rituals and Puja we perform. We extend open invitations to everyone, sharing elaborate schedules and timings. Our entire Retreat society is invited to join us during Durga Puja. Friends and neighbors join on different days, in small and big groups, participating in rituals like Bodhan, Sandhi Puja, and Sindur Khela. Strangers become friends during these celebrations. A couple, new to the city, reached out after seeing my post and joined us on Navmi evening. Their warmth and enthusiasm made the evening unforgettable.
On Vijaya Dashami, an aunt from Heights joined us for Sindur Khela, beaming with joy. Though we were strangers, our shared experience forged a connection. Sandhi Puja, for example, would see so many friends and neighbours joining to see the special puja and light diyas with their wishes in heart.
After three years of hosting Durga Puja, we realise this celebration transforms our home’s ambiance, weaving our family, friends, and neighbours closer together.
