Y. Sailaja
Language cloaks every emotion
(Blues refers to India's cricket team, that won 2 out of 4 test matches in the Dec 2020-Jan 2021 series and won the series 2-1 with victories in Melbourne and Brisbane, with Sydney being a draw. This victory was against all odds as Indian team had multiple injuries and were widely considered the inferior side; the final Indian victory in Brisbane where Aussies hadn't lost in 32 years was considered a historical triumph. This is a poem in tribute)
Winter isn't dark, just a veneer
The air isn't frigid, the Sun's glorious rays do rear
A plague isn't, the euphoria does eclipse
Lost in the crowd say some, just mere blips
Not so fast, in the first innings said Rohit, Sundar and Shardul
We Sports fans wait with bated breath, forgetting the political bull
As we reach an improbable 336 makes our goblet of hope full
Social media debates on current events sound tinny and shrill
Oblivious, we are glued to the TV watching our boys work the till
To keep their second innings total to run-of-the-mill
The symphony slowly quickens as we witness a masterclass by Gill
To start off day five where our demise was being bet
A prideful nation's media extolled the unreachable target
Gabbatoir their press coined, lambs designated for slaughter
Until our lads changed the script and their plans started to sputter
Small details gone awry as to whose heads were on the block
Flashbacks started happening as down wound the clock
Melbourne the Baggy green's batting was a pile of crock
Us leveling the series was a bit of a shock!
In Sydney they tried to give us the old heave ho' off the dock
Valiant resistance however was their bane
The hamstrung Vihari and the battered Ash stopped the train
As victory eluded them, out came the sledging as a familiar refrain
They and their media had sworn, in fortress-Gabba we will be slain
Smug in their knowledge that injuries had us fried
But all Blues backers, on adrenaline high, witnessed the turning of the tide
The sports chatter on the web intensified, all aboard for the ride
As Gill, Jinks and finally Pant-bull appeared on the crease signaling Red
Their bowlers tried incessantly to breach Puje's head
They hit him and hurt him but courageously he led
While at the other end, our boys smacked them behind the woodshed
The lead inexorably diminished as the red ball frequently found the ropes instead
Until after the Tea recess, to their great consternation and dismay
The game had transmogrified into a chase unworthy even of a T20 fray
Samurais Pant and Sundar wielded the bat like swords causing disarray
As the Aussies heads dropped realizing that vanquished they would be with a bang
Until the final blow caused the fortress to be stormed and the closing bell rang
Cacophony and jubilation as the web and social media posts exploded
What a series, what a game, what a magnum opus finally concluded
Chinmayee Sahu
In today’s time, technology has become a part and parcel of our lives, as without technical knowledge one would be way behind the real world. Computers have been an aid to the teaching and learning process in the recent times. Teachers take help of audio-visual techniques in making their teaching more appealing and simpler for the students to learn. Similarly, students use the internet for useful information for their assignments, projects and other activities. To summarize, technology has been effectively used as an important tool to make the traditional mode of education more vibrant.
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected various aspects of normal life, school and college life have felt the ripple too. The year 2020 has been a year of transition for schools as they looked for ways to adapt and looked for options to substitute in-person classes. The good news is that educational institutions could swiftly switch over to an alternative mode of coaching with the help of digital technologies. Hence, in my over 20 years of teaching experience in various institutions of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the year 2020 is particularly remarkable for giving me an opportunity to bring technology to the forefront and work on the prospect of integrating education wholly with the digital world. The entire integration process I must say has been both formidable and fascinating!
This breakthrough in the face of many technical odds and achieved with the help of a large community of teachers and administrators, has facilitated a digital connection with the students to form a virtual classroom. Students seemingly enjoyed the novel experience to sign into this new portal via the Zoom app, and perch comfortably in front of their devices from the comfort of their home. I could discern a different vibe from my students, a sense of relaxation on their faces. At the same time, I felt as if I am a TV personality and being watched by my students exuberantly!!
However, there were ups and down in the intensity of this vibrancy and their spirit. Every now and then to retain their attention, I as a teacher would try to figure out the gaps and bounce back with ideas such as online quizzes and impromptu discussions. It is a constant endeavor to keep the forum of online classes as stimulating as possible in the path of erudition.
On the other hand, the huge challenge of online classes for every teacher is to maintain the decorum of the class, particularly keeping a watch on every child and encouraging them to be active participants. Since the students must keep their microphones muted to avoid noise and many of them even switch off their videos with excuse of network problem, it is a real struggle on teacher’s part to know how alert each child is! Yet another major problem of online classes is, the inability to keep a track of students’ homework as virtual correction of notebooks is something next to impossible!!
Both traditional and online classes offer effective education and method of imparting knowledge. Ultimately, its effectiveness depends upon the student’s personal motivation, attitude to learning and self-discipline in the process. There is no denying the fact that, this mode may not be very convenient for every child and that traditional learning in a physical setting is still ranked the best way to interact. But online classes have proven to provide more convenience than ever for students - they don’t have to commute long hours to & from school; they can take classes in the privacy of their own homes and this renders more freedom for self-pacing and greater number of hours for scholarship.
Finally, I want to state that there are several students who have adapted themselves to the new system very efficiently and have demonstrated their sincerity and inquisitiveness whereas, a handful of students want to shy away from active participation and benefits that the virtual classrooms have to offer. The constraint on the part of the teacher is her inability to foster and nurture the drive for learning as the access is limited and over a screen. In such a scenario to impede any restlessness and lack of focus, the traditional face-to-face setting would work the best! We all know that there are many impediments and hurdles in the process of change, but the good part is with this change we now have more opportunities to grow and refine the culture of schooling.
Take 17 - Minakshi Mishra
My Durga Puja memories from childhood are feeble unlike
those nostalgic ones from Ganesh or Saraswati Puja which were hosted by Ushalok
club at Master Canteen. All I recollect
is telling my Ma that I'd someday like to go with her to Cuttack to see Durga
Puja there since I had only seen the beautiful silvery/ glittery "medhas"
in passing glances while accompanying my best friend Sucha to and from her
Aai’s home by car.
In Bhubaneswar those days, if any puja pandal was somewhat
far away, meaning not in the neighborhood, it was deemed out of bounds for some
reason. Of course, my own Aima made sure that pujas at home had such elaborate
preparation and pithas that everyone around felt tremendous enthusiasm
for them. The very memory of the colors
and costumes and the general happiness that pervaded the streets during this
time is bittersweet now – happy it happened, but now unable to reach back in
time and experience it once more.
I experienced Durga Puja fervor in essence when we went
pandal-hopping in Bombay during the 90s. In a typical big-city approach, the
pandals are glitzier, larger, yet better organized. And, very famous and attract huge crowds. I
remember going with a large group of friends from the office – in an assortment
of vehicles. We lived in Borivali but met with the group at a Durga Puja in
Vile Parle/ Juhu; the size of the crowd was awe-inspiring, and Bollywood
celebrities were scheduled to visit including Usha Uthup! They offered us jhal-moodhi and cha
in earthen cups, a true Bengali tradition. Traffic on Mumbai roads are
legendary, more so on such special occasions, but we were intrepid enough to
then go for the Powai pandal near Hiranandani gardens, which is renowned for
innovative themes, for the evening aarti. Then we hopped over to the nearby
Chembur Durga Puja which was also the local haunt for all our HPCL colony
residents. This one is particularly
famous for the variety of food available, though the crush of devotees can
evoke fear at times. My memory goes hazy after this.
What I do miss, as much as the food and the gaiety, is the
feeling of closure at the end of each puja.
During the Visarjan, everyone would get emotional because of the
feeling of the Deity going away, leaving empty pandals and heavy hearts. Here
in South Florida, that is not the case. Durga Maa goes to her storage location
and reappears year after year looking exactly the same.
Take 16 - Sipra Pati
Durga Puja in my childhood was synonymous with the week-long
visit to my Jeje Bapa and JejeMaa’s house in Cuttack. Only we called it
Dussehra. There are so many memories... that it is quite the task to lean in and
pick out one to share because that one memory is like a loose piece of wool
from a sweater. Tug on it and it just unravels... memory upon memory. There were
the games my cousins and I played, improvising the rules, the games we invented, reading those old
Penguin publications and sepia-toned Reader’s Digests collections of my Dad and
kakei, sitting on the verandah and watching the crowd as they headed towards
the Kathajodi to the Naee Jatra, the food, the moms cooking, the
sneaking onto the terrace in the middle of the night, walking in my JejeMaa’s baadi
with her exotic plant collection, going to watch a movie with the whole clan.
One Dussehra, when I was in Class VII, I remember 22 of the Patis walking to
Durga Talkies to see Sree Jaganath! We did go visit the pandals, but they were
almost an afterthought, and my memories regarding the ‘medhas’ and bhasani
are vague at best.
One of my more vivid memories relate to the Naee Jatra.
I don’t know if this still takes place now. But back in the 80s the banks of
the Kathajodi would be home to a jatra where farmers and tradespersons
from the small villages around Cuttack and from the islands in the Mahanadi
would come to sell their ware. Baskets (kula), jhaadu, and other
household products not typically found in the stand-alone grocery stores of
those days. While I do not like being in a crowd, I enjoy watching a crowd. Our
house in Cuttack offered the best gallery to watch throngs of people heading to
the Naee Jatra, their numbers increasing as the afternoon progressed into early evening. People carrying their ware, the rickshaw wala yelling for
people to move because no one was heeding his cycle bell, women and children
dressed in resplendence (literally - my cousins and I had a running count of
women wearing ‘shocking pink’ sarees; we used to also have a running count of
the number of times cyclists had to dismount because pedestrians would not move),
the stray bull plopping down in the middle of the road, the dahi bara-aloo
dum vendors ‘walking’ their bicycles, the gupchup walas pushing
their thelas, vendors balancing aluminum containers with singhadha and rasagolla on either side of flimsy bamboo pole, men carrying baskets covered with khalipatra on their heads… it was a human mosaic
of color, sound, and sight! And, deft navigation!
I visited Cuttack every single year during Durga Puja till I
moved out of Bhubaneswar in the early 90s. My last Puja was in 1990. And it was my
last time at my grandparents’ home. To me this festive season has always been
about family. I feel blessed to have a large family with scores of cousins on
both sides. And a Puja does not feel like a Puja if I am alone.
Take 15 - Subhashis Panda
This was a little before I would be completing eight months
into marriage. It was decided (no marks for guessing, who decided) that our
first Bijoya Dashami would be a visit to all my in-laws followed by pandal
hopping, finally ending with watching the Rabana Podi at Saheed Nagar. Much
that I hate driving in heavy traffic; I went about the whole routine without a
single retort. Paan in the mouth really helps sometimes.
When we reached Saheed Nagar, I parked the car in a bylane,
and we walked hand in hand up to the pandal. I packed a couple of paans in my
mouth as we weaved our way through the jam-packed crowd. After the customary
darshan, as we were wading out to a distant location for a clear view of the
Rabana Podi, I felt the urge to spit out the paan juice, which was overwhelming
me. As we were bustling out, I suddenly saw an empty space and I spat. A hand
came out from nowhere and my spit landed on the back of his hand. I whisked out
my handkerchief and placed it on the back of his hand.
The next moment we had melted in the crowd.
Take 14 - Sid Padhi
The closest I came to an exciting memory in the context of
Durga Puja was one, I think, from Std VIII days, when along with my cousin, I
had a free run of the Grand Carnival of Cuttack – Bhasani. I say free run
because my childhood had been a sheltered one, to say the least. I had to abide
by timings and going out without informing and a definite objective was not the
accepted norm. Hence, exposure to Puja fanfare was strictly from the confines
of direct observable range of chaperones (generic for any accompanying elder).
And, therefore, no adventures. So, my
cousins and I saw what our elders showed us.
Bhasani was all about whose Medha was the best and who
put on the best show. There were friction points, of course. Rival pandals
vying for popularity, which meant a mention in the papers the next day. Those
were the days when people had integrity.
The second there was the route issue - which Medha
would precede whom - for everyone who knows Cuttack know that there are no
further 'avenues to explore'.
Thirdly, there was a communal angle. As the Medhas
passed through certain Muslim zones, there would be a few miscreants (from
either side) who would try to instigate a fight. When I look back on those
times, I see how much society and societal thought has changed. Those
miscreants would be caught and banged up by both sides and the show would
literally go on. No huge flare-up like today. Reporters didn't care squat about
those goons.
So, coming to me and my experience. Despite the free run, nothing
happened. I mean, nothing of substance. The Grand Carnival appeared at its best
yet. They had some new kind of lights that blinked better than the previous
year. The dance steps were definitely the latest. I had a generous supply of
roasted peanuts and was strategically located on a tall, broad wall overlooking
the whole shebang - a ringside view.
But nothing happened. That year probably was the only year
when all friction points were lubricated and the was also the only year I had
the freedom to watch it from so close.
I went to bed very happy that night. I'd had my lifetime's
fill from the buffet that evening had offered and it was all because ‘nothing
happened' that evening.
Take 13 - Siddhartha Sahu
Durga Puja was always a Cuttack thing and I was, and still
am, not a big fan of crowds. I have a vague recollection of pandal hopping
once, ages back, in Cuttack with unidentified relatives in rickshaws. Neither
the glitzy decorations nor the never changing features and pose of the Goddess
from pandal to pandal interested me then. I have given pandals a miss ever
since. I think the themes became more creative later with showcasing of current
topics (like one shared recently with Xi as the demon!). But usually I find the
execution amateurish and too much in the face. Personally, I prefer the
permanence of a temple than an ephemeral pandal for my obeisance. I know I will
get quite a few kicks in the butt from many of my friends but that's my honest
take on this.
Welcome any damning comments you may have…
Take 12 - Neeta Mohanty Nayak
Growing up around Durga Mandira in Bapuji Nagar
Durga Puja or Dussehra or just “Puja” as it’s known in
Odisha. I grew up calling this festival Puja as this was the most popular
festival of the year. Being right next
to a popular Durga mandira, I recall being part of the festivities from
a very young age.
As far as my memory goes back, the pre-puja preparation would
start a month or two in advance. The
temple will get a fresh coat of paint. A
massive cleanup event will be planned.
Baikhunta Bhaina (head pujari at the temple) complaining to my parents
because we kids would have ran across the clean floors and left our foot
prints!! There will be the much-awaited saree
auction from the temple that my elder sisters looked forward. The sarees from prior year used to be
auctioned off to make room for new donations of sarees. I so vividly remember, the saree donated from
Banaras Beauty was the most sought after.
The temple had a tradition of sponsorship program. 20 families were allocated lunch/dinner for
the 10 days. My family had the honor of Asthami
lunch. The preparation would start a
week in advance with Baikhunta Bhaina and his head cooks fixing menus and
making the list. I accompanied my Bapa
to Hata a lot. We would buy large
quantities of supplies and directly deliver to mandira. The day of Asthami, hustle bustle
would start at 5 am and continue till 3 pm or so. Hauling the groceries from home through the
secret side door to the mandira was the fun part. Being the right age for chores, my brother
and I would run between our house and mandira for anything and
everything. Puja was accompanied with
special musical instruments (shehnai and dholak) along with the ghanta
and sankha. New outfits,
fragrance of flowers, smell of prasad in the air just brings the nostalgia in
me.
Not every year, but occasionally there would be a movie
screening on the open field at night. We
would be on the first row and stay till the end and run home because my brother
will scare me by saying there is a “Bhuta” sitting by the roadside. Often there will be Ravan Dahan and I
would bring potato and other vegetables to roast, God knows how much vegetables
I have sacrificed in the fire!! This was
so repetitive every year that there was never a need to go around other places
in Bhubaneswar. A trip to Cuttack to see
the pandals would be a dream come true.
Only if there was a time machine to take me back… but I do relive those
moments in memory.
Bhubaneswar – best place on earth and childhood memories –
takes you through life.
Take 11 - Sushant Paikray
A walk to the Unit 4 puja pandal on a cold October morning
with my younger brother is possibly the best memory I have of Dussehra. This
everyday walk would start almost two weeks before Sashti puja, from the
time when the artisan would be gathering his random thoughts to give shape to
his imagination. We would hold the artisan in high esteem and sit in front of
him with great appreciation of his skill, though deep inside it used to be our
urge to see the idol taking its final shape. Coming back home every day with a
sense of satisfaction and narrating the progress to my sisters would become a
norm for the next couple of weeks.
The euphoria and excitement building upto the puja followed
by sadness and gloom on the day of immersion will always remain engraved in
memory...
Take 10 - Tamsa Mahapatra
Every year I eagerly
wait for the arrival of Maa. The atmosphere becomes so blissful with sweet
scent, sound of mantras and Dhol. For me, the first and foremost is to
have a gorgeous new dress.
My fondest memories are those of the Puja celebrations at our ashram in Puri. My parents and guruji, Sri Sri Satyananda Brahmachari used to do the Kumari maa sewa. Many Kumari Kanyas throng the ashram every morning. Then guruji washed their feet. My mother would apply alta, kumkum and chandan to the Kumari Maas. Then they would be seated in a line and offered prashad. The smell of bhoger khichudi was just irresistible. There would be a number of items to be served along with the khichdi. In the evening there would be the 'Dhunuchi dance' accompanied by dhaak. That was sheer magic! I felt like being transferred into another world. Simply mesmerizing!
After Bijaya Dashami, a sense of emptiness would engulf my soul. My father would lift up my spirit by saying, "Maa has to go back to her abode as she has to take care of the world. Cheer up Dhania, she will come back next year."
Take 9 - Rajesh Srivastava
My fondest memories of Navratri or Durga Puja are those of
the Garba Dance festival when I was in Baroda, my first posting back in 1994.
Those 9-days or rather nights I experienced the highest
level of aesthetics ever. Every evening, the entire city, as One, would
earnestly wait around 8pm for the air to be soon filled with soul enchanting
devotional songs of Maa Durga, sung typically in Gujarati Garbo style.
People, absolutely loving people, boys, girls, uncles, aunties, grandpas and
grandmas (with the highest standards of civic sense I have found anywhere
across the Indian subcontinent) in thousands, all dressed up in traditional Garbo
attire would slowly join in, barefoot, with or without Garba dancing sticks,
swaying together in concentric circles on the open, cleaned mud-prepared ground
like under a common hypnotic spell in complete Unison to Spiritual Harmony. We,
bunch of young officers, would at times hop from one Mela 'ground' to another
spread across the city on our bikes until morning. As each night transcended
into wee hours, there was no sign of tiredness but only the longing for one
more song. On the last three nights, as the feeling sunk in that Garba festival
will soon end, you could see people having wet eyes as the last mornings
dawned, until next year!
Not one untoward incident took place those days, as young
girls and boys roamed freely throughout the city, clad in jewelry, all night. I
often murmured to myself, this is Heavenly India!
We, IAF spoilt brats, would quite often leave behind our
bikes somewhere in the city, only for the police to decently return them back
to us next morning in the Officers Mess, Makarpura Palace. We took that as our
right, like we trust our parents.
I also see Durga Puja as a precursor to Deepawali and my
annual bonafide licence to splurge and indulge in all sorts of enviable but
harmless sins. 😉
Take 8 - Debjeet Kar
Every Puja, the child in us would wait with a pair of new
dress for each of the 4 days of Durga Puja Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami.
The day would start on an empty stomach till the pushpanjali time and then we
would run for a Puri Sabji and a golab jamun prasad to fill ourselves first and
fast! Lunch menu comprised of khicchddi or pulao with a variety of vegetables, khiri
and rosogollas at the end. The evening time was filled with a fun walk along
the nearby pandals and then meeting friends and relatives - each one wearing a
gorgeous and new attire, with broad smiles, and endless stories taking us down
memory lane. Each day and every night till Dashami were memorable! Till the day
of Dashami where we expected a bhasani of Goddess Durga accompanied with a new
hope of seeing her again in a similar form next year...again...
Tradition kept alive as years go by...🙏
A week of fun and a beautiful way to energise ourselves.
Take 7 - Som Patnaik
My most fond memories from childhood are the days of Durga Puja – days of joy, happiness, fun and gaiety. Nine days of good food, the most wonderful sweets, and being surrounded by festivities is what transpired as Goddess Durga resided with us. One of the things I cherish the most is how my brothers and I stayed away in the evenings to go around the different medhas in town and specially stop to listen to the melodies at the Cuttack pandals.
One distinct, favourite and humorous memory of almost every
Puja season was sneaking into our home late at night after pandal-hopping and getting
caught in the act by our father. His one-line remarks on our late returns still
brings a broad smile to my face.
This was also that time of the year when we were
indulged.... good food and new clothes. Durga Puja was a time of change, change
of season, feelings, and everything seemed new. I miss those festivities that were full of simplicity.
Take 6 - Tariq Wakil
When
I was in Standard 9...
I had been invited to a new friend's house who had just shifted from Cuttack. I took him to
meet my Saheed Club (junior) friends. When we reached the club field, the gang
was discussing about visiting the puja pandals in Bhubaneswar on Vijay
Dashami. Everyone greeted my new friend,
Bulu Parida. Bulu was a real daredevil and he suggested we all go on a cycle
expedition to Cuttack and see the pandals there, which were better and more beautiful than that of Bhubaneswar. Though this remark was not taken well, it arose our
curiosity. None of us had seen the Cuttack Dussehra celebration. Eventually it
was decided that we all - 14-15 guys would go double-riding process - two on
one cycle.
But I had doubts... if my parents would allow me to go on
this expedition. So, I kept mum not knowing how to convince my friends or my
parents. To my surprise, that evening my friends came to my house. They pleaded
with my father, ultimately convincing him to allow me to go on the trip – on the
guarantee that we all return before sunset. They didn't tell him that it was a
cycling trip. And, neither did I.
The next day we met at the club field and by 7am we were on
the go via Rasulgarh. The highway was narrower those days. And I was literally
scared of the traffic - inter-state trucks and Ambassadors and Rajdoot
and Bajaj scooters. I had a dreadful belief that truck drivers were
drunkards and always caused accidents. So, I insisted on pedaling instead of
sitting on the rod of the bicycle. I was convinced I was a better cyclist than
the rest of my friends. And I could easily dodge the drunk truckers or in an
emergency... just jump away to save my life. I still remember the fright and
courage mixture in my stomach.
It was a two hour ride. We stopped enroute at Pahala to
have fresh hot, smouldering, rassagollas - I gobbled twenty of them for
just five rupees!
The moment we entered Cuttack town, I was baffled by the narrow, crowded roads. Every two meters we had to literally dismount our cycles. There were rows and rows of shops and innumerable cows and dogs in the streets. Street vendors captured more than 50% of the streets. It appeared as if everyone knew everyone in the crowd. There was total chaos all around.
Our first Pandal was the one at Madhupatna chowk.. and
then... it was as if every lane and bylane had a pandal. We were forced to
get down from the cycle and simply walk.
Bulu took us to his Mamu's place in Chowdhury Bazar and we
all had some good naashta of Aloodum Dahibara, which I tasted for the first
time. It was really good, and we had our fill. His Mamu directed a route plan
for us and we set forth visiting pandals until 3pm. We got to know that the evenings
would be entertaining and cold. We also had to return the same evening before dark. We were all frightened. Mamu instructed us to stay back
overnight...
More to come!
Take 5 - Mrigank Das
I have one little vignette about Dussehra Puja that comes
from the small town of Burla in Western Orissa where we lived for about 5 years
when I was a young lad. It is a smaller city compared to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack
or even its bigger twin city Sambalpur but by no means insignificant as it
houses two very premier institutions of learning, the Medical College and an
Engineering College both ranked among the top two or three in Orissa. As a
result of its proximity to the Madhya Pradesh border, Dussehra in Burla was a
fusion of the traditional Durga Devi pandals and also the more North Indian
custom of burning an effigy of the ten-headed demon king Ravana in a fairground
on the south side of the town. As a young lad after doing the rounds of the
usual Durga Devi pandals in the various Medical and Engineering college hostels
which were always done with their usual splendor and variety and where my dad
always got a few extra goodies owing to his status as a Medical college
professor, our tradition was to go out
to the nocturnal Vijaydashami effigy burning which was in a fairground on the
other side of the huge canal that flowed down from the majestic Hirakud dam
that separated the quaint, compact, and yet charming market areas of Burla from
the Medical campus where we resided. The sights and sounds and smells of the
pyrotechnics and the bonhomie of the large crowd of onlookers that would cheer
and clap as the various parts of the Demon king's grotesque effigy came
careening down with crackles and spits of fire was a childhood thrill that was
distinct and unique from the celebrations in the cities like Bhubaneswar and
Cuttack on the eastern part of the state.
Take 4 - Rita Sinha
My childhood memories of Durga Puja starts and ends in the
small Durga Puja pandal of Unit 4 AG Colony.
My unforgettable memories of Durga Puja start with Baba
taking us to a gents’ tailor in Unit 4 market for tailoring our dresses. I
liked the bell bottom pants and (Neetu Singh's) elephant-ear sleeves. The
number of inches of bell bottom flares obviously reduced after delivery due to my
mother’s conspiracy.
Now, comes the most awaited days of Durga Puja. My nostalgic
memories of Durga Puja are Durga Ma, partially hidden in the aroma-mixed jhuna
smoke during aartis, the huge lotus
garland around her neck, her long black hair, the sound of Dhak, the khichidi
bhog blended with a unique puja mixed flavour, the Dhunuchi dance after sandhya
aarti, the sindoor khela..... etc. (I can
add the numbers non-stop).
Other amusements included the small mela where I think
world's best lemonade, lembu khatta ice cream, sonpapri, chat and dahibara used
to wait for me. The world's best cinema theatre
used to come to is in an open space under the sky with a biiiig white screen tied to
two long bamboo pillars with a projector.
I once got a chance to watch 'Awara' for one hour. (The screen name of
the heroine, Rita, attracted me more!)
On the day of Ashtami, tasty, tasty curries and non-veg
items were cooked by Ma at home. But my mind was always in the khichdi bhog of
the pandal.
Gradually comes the day of Dussehra. Ma used to spend the
day preparing coconut laddu, sondesh, nimki, khaja, and ghugni. Didi and I were
appointed as assistants in nimki cutting.
Finally, comes the pathetic day of Bisarjan when I used to literally cry .
Last but not the least, came the time to rest. This
particular time my sisters and I used to get fever all at the same time. Ma and
Baba's scolding used to work more than medicines here.
After all this fun, was the most disliked memory: the school opening.
Friends, we all are witnesses of all the changes in the
world from the past decades to till today. So enjoy every moment of your day.
You will never get back the day you have already spent. We can again write a
story after decades about this day.
Take 3 - Sid Padhi
When I think Puja during my schooldays, I think of sardines in an ambassador car. The sardines being my nine cousins and me packed into an Ambassador that took us on a tour of the pandals of Cuttack. No getting down. No parking space, anyway. But, those days cars were allowed. We took turns sitting on each other and coming up for air. It was a lot of fun. The puja pandals itself weren't as fun - going to Cuttack to see what I'd seen the previous year didn't excite me.
Take 2 - Sankalpa Basu
Durgapuja was the most special time of the year for me. Maa
used to cook many delicacies, there were new clothes, no school and no
homework, it was the simply the best time of the year. Amongst all these
memories one stands out. Durgapuja was the only time I was allowed to stay out
past midnight. It made me feel free. My best friend Munna and me made sure that
our bicycles were in good repair and wait until dinner was over.
It was quite a ritual, we used to go out every night but one
when we went to see a movie with the family. The rest were devoted towards
exploring the various pujas of Bhubaneswar and outskirts. Our forays didn't
have a pattern, we stayed in one pandal if we wanted to or ride between many if
that's what we felt like on that night.
Our favourites were the pujas at Railway Station, AG colony,
Airport and Banadurga. There was also the pleasure of going the various sahi
pujas of Old-town. In those days, hopefully it hasn't changed much, the old
town idols were mostly of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. These pujas became less
busy after midnight, it was the best time to be see those pujas. Maa used to
look the same every year. It was divine, literally to commune with her in the
quiet hours of the night.
Watching a open air movie was one of the many perks of the pujas. We liked to watch the shows in the Aerodrome puja. It was late and cold by the time the movie ended. And the aerodrome road became rather deserted. My most favourite moments were of riding fast in the same route as our school bus went. We used to race against each other, laughing and without a care in the World. Our bikes made a satisfying whirr when we freewheeled, and the cool air hit my warm face and coursed through my hair. I felt more alive than I ever have. Then we went to see the old town pujas before returning home. We often stayed a bit, Maa in her resplendence watched the two lads as they looked at their protectress. And I used to think she was smiling at us.
Take 1 - Biswajita Ray Samal
My childhood memories of Durga Puja go back to the time when
we lived in our house near Bhubaneswar's airport. Durga Puja in that area was predominantly
organized and celebrated by the Bengali staff who lived in the airport campus.
After completing puja at home, we would all dress up and go visit the Puja
Mandap. It was so nice to see all the women, men and children dressed up! I
loved seeing the Dhup dance. And those drum sounds! They gave me the goose
bumps then, and even now, when I think about it, I get goosebumps – Bhakti goosebumps!
I learnt about sindoor khel – this is something that was not common among Odia
people. I learned at these celebrations the reason behind sindoor khel. Earth
is Goddess Durga’s maternal home, her maika. As she gets ready to head back to
the heavens, she is bid farewell with the auspicious colors of vermilion,
sindoor.
I also remember going to Cuttack a few times to watch the different medhas. It was
always interesting to watch the Bhasani from the balcony of our family friend’s
home. Bhasani always made me sad – I knew it was temporary, but it felt like
Goddess Durga was leaving us. I felt more sad for the artists who had put so
much effort in creating the idols.
Compiled by Sipra Pati
Howdy y’all! I have lived in Texas for a while now. Just
like very other state and place, Texas has its own little quirks and secrets. I
thought of sharing some interesting facts about this state which my family
and I have called home for some time now.
Nature and the State –
On the dinner table –
Space and Technology –
It’s legal… wait it’s illegal… what no! IT is the law!
Getting physical –
Last, but not the least –
There are more interesting snippets about Texas on these
websites (where I found all the above information), if you are interested:
Subhashis: Sankalpa! Got this now:
Sankalpa: I am holding my breath. Make a light liquor and try it on its own. Then drink the stronger milk variety (I discourage it), only after you get a feel for it. Keep it sealed in an airtight jar, I will get it from you if you don't like it. I am very excited.
Subhashis: First cup was a disaster (thanks to the
excitement). The water got boiled. But the woody taste was distinct. Second cup
was nice. Switched off just before it could boil. Taste was better.
Sankalpa: You can boil it if you want to drink with milk. When the lock-down gets over, think of buying something like this.
Subhashis: No milk and sugar for me
Sid: He may become a tea-totaller but I bet he can't
be a teetotaller.
Sankalpa: Subhasis has a fondness for the good things in life. That I think we can agree on.
Siddhu: This fascination for tea of a particular bagaan (garden/estate in Bengali) I saw in the Durgapur Bongs. I never saw tea shops like those elsewhere except in WB. They would have tins and well-sealed tins of tea lined up all over the walls and floor. Every Bong was partial to his own bagaan and had his unique mix of dust, leaf, granules which the shopkeeper had no problem understanding. There could be 5 combinations of bagaans and leaf type in a 200gm order and the shopkeeper would happily comply. Customers actually lined up for tea like they line up for booze now.
Sandeep: Anyone remembers Ruby Dust? There is another important criteria: 1st flush: spring harvest and 2nd flush: autumn harvest; the former being much better. Age too matters a lot – a good first flush will lose 50% of its value by the time the autumn harvest is ready, that is six months.
Trivia: The Brits took a lot of tea pickers from Orissa to Upper Assam, the language spoken in that region is called Bagania and has a lot of Oriya words.
This variety is Orange Pekoe, Lopchu is the garden. One can have Orange Pekoe variety from different gardens/ bagaans. It is a popular variety. Not variety but grade; that’s the highest grade and dust is the lowest.
Sid: Mukharuchi style.
Siddhu: Exactly. More sophisticated version
Sandeep: There was this bengali guy named Kesto
between Pen Hospital and Swosti Hotel who used to sell mixed tea loose tea
Sankalpa: Arun Tea Co.
Biswaranjan: My father used to get tea from there. Later on, it
operated from the Swosti building. Finally, he retired and went back to his
native place
Sankalpa: Yes, my father was very sad when he went. He was
the only person in Bhubaneswar who could make a good blend.
Sandeep: Yes, he last operated from Swosti hotel
building. I had my office in Master Canteen, knew him personally, a lovable chap. He
didn't go away, one fine day he dropped from the face of the earth
(disappeared). His wife tried to run the shop but couldn't manage, she had to
close shop.
Minakshi: I remember. 'Was in front of our home.
Sipra: There was one in Bapuji Nagar too. In the first gali. A little bigger than a paana shop. Stacked with tins wall to wall. Dash Tea, I think. Sad that these are not there anymore.
Sid: There was one in Tulsipur, Cuttack, where the
signboard said - Cha in Odia followed by T in English, repeated over and over. Gave the
impression of ChaaT. But disappointingly, stocking tea.
********
It is interesting how the simplest of things, like a cup of tea, can trigger a lengthy conversation. This time the conversation was on tea. Some facts, some trivia, and some memories!
Disclaimer: A conversation transferred from the class' WhatsApp group. There was some conversation in between that I took the liberty of removing because it wasn't relevant.
As the world started shutting down, locking itself indoors, more and more people began to explore the possibilities and extent of their capabilities. Some of my friends took it upon themselves to shell out a variety of delicacies - some with little or no help from spouses, children or other family members; some who extended little or no help to their spouses or children. And, I got to get a look at some of these mouth-watering dishes. Inspired, I cooked and baked some too. The fears, both known and unknown, of the pandemic still hover over our heads. The initial excitement and fervor of sharing food tales seemed to have simmered down. I saved some of the pictures and thought of sharing it here - who knows, this may inspire many more of us to get creative in the kitchen.
So in no particular order,