Pujo and Pandemic
It’s 01:35am and I’m listening to some Garba, while writing (though I’m a double-distilled Bengali, I fall in love with Garba every time I see or hear it; But don’t think that Tagore takes a back-seat; We don’t introduce our best friends separately). This is the night before Chaturthi and it’s Durga Pujo in just two days. And as the usual last minute preparation goes on both in my home and outside, I miss something : The Adrenaline Rush. This is probably the thing only a Bengali can feel almost every year. Staying up late in the night and waiting in que for more than two hours to see a puja pandal may seem useless but not after you have seen the glory of Bengal’s Durga Pujo. This year is that exception which no one ever expected. Even though it’s lockdown for last 6 months, from the last 1 month it feels real as ever. The once enjoyable ‘work from home’ has by now become long hours of torment for everybody. For me, moving out of the house every year during Durga pujo to Pandal hop with my family is one of the best things that I’ll ever be doing. And meeting friends in one of the Pandals is equal to a fair bonus. In the midst of a pandemic and all other crisis for that matter, this is that one time when each person living in Bengal will yet again invoke the power of ‘Maa’ in themselves. It feels almost unbelievable that we won’t Pandal hop this year. Though as Saptami will advance, the harsh reality will hit hard. Nevertheless we must be a Bengali and show ‘Kaanchkola’(literally means ‘Green Banana’; but to Bengalis showing ‘Kaanchkola’ to someone means failing the plans of someone in the most miserable way) to COVID by enjoying to the fullest, especially this time. Be that as it may, we can’t Pandal hop, but we can definitely come together, right? Be it by Video call or emails or long hours of chatting or lying down for the whole afternoon to read ‘Feluda’ (if you don’t know who ‘Feluda’ is, toh pad kya rahe ho? Search and find out!!!) and other Bengali Novels. It’s just about enjoying. After 6 miserable months of 2020, everyone needs a mental and emotional recharge. Then why let this pandemonium-like-pandemic steal the vibrancy now?
