Hello to all the lovely people out there!

Hope y’all are doing awesome. The magical time of the year has finally come for which we Bengalis wait for the whole year ~ Ma Dugga’s homecoming. Today, the auspicious day of Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi-Paksha and the end of the Pitri-Paksha.

So, this is not like the usual morning, when you wake up before sunrise, feeling as dreary as the early-morning sky. But, this is the morning when you wake up with a bit smile on your face, tune in to the enchanting melodious voice of none other than the legend Birendra Krishna Bhadra on Mahisahur Mardini , one of the oldest shows aired by All India Radio, Kolkata. And, that’s how the festivity begins.

Waking up to the rhythmic beats of ‘dhaak-er awaj’ for few days, staring at the beautiful autumn sky for hours and never having a dull moment, walking few extra miles to get your shopping done for that perfect ‘pujor jama’, the soothing ‘kash phool’ view while driving back from office, night out plans with friends along with ‘pandal hopping’ and off course binge eating, soaking up to the Night Jasmine’s fragrance filled breeze, ‘dhunuchi-nach’ in the pandals, decking up in you best outfit for ‘astamir anjali’, the humble and ever delicious ‘pujor bhog’, the ‘sindoor khela’ and finally the ‘bijoya dashami’, Aah, nostalgia strikes right there.

The alarm rings as the clock struck 4:00 in the morning. She wakes up, bit agitated, just to realize it was nothing but a dream. Then she starts to think why on earth she set up the alarm so early on a Sunday morning. It is still dark and tranquil outside. Soon she remembers what is so special about the day. Back home in Kolkata, everyone has woken up to …

‘Ya Devi Sarbabhuteshu’

Finally, wiping the tears with a smile on her lips, she plugs in those airpods and starts listening to the magical voice reciting Chandipath, her modest try since last few days to make it to “home”, miles away from home.

“To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.”

Hope you guys really like this post. Do let me know about your pujo experience and plans in the comment section below and until we meet again, be beautiful be confident,be YOU. Wishing you all “Subha Sharodiar Preeti O Suvechha” (Happy Durga Puja)

XOXO

Aparajita