22 October
2023
22 October
2023
Moitra Kakima !
When I met Pintu and Sintu, I had asked if any of the other old friends were still around. Most of the names they mentioned were strangers to me. I had already left by the time they had come in. Except one name – Joy Moitra!
I remembered him. In fact, I remembered his dad vividly. I think he was in the same department as my dad at work. The two distinct memories I have of his dad are that he always wore the traditional Bengali white kurta pyjama and he was never without a “paan” in his mouth!! This is a betel leaf wrapped around a areca nuts, slaked lime and other condiments – which were supposed to have a addictive, extremely mild narcotic effects. Was fairly common in Bengal then.
I also found out that Joy Moitra was the cashier for the Durga Puja Committee. However, he had to go somewhere else at that moment.
Not to be outdone, I went back to the same mandap the next day again. And hit pay dirt… saw this tall young gentleman (his dad was very tall) and asked him if he was Joy. I was overjoyed to hear his answer. Found out that his mom is still around and lives with him. Again, the same house for over 50 years!!!
As you can imagine, we walked up to his house and predictably had a blast with his mom remembering the good old days.
Walking back, I mused how I miss those previous generation folks who were such great personal examples and guides for me when I was very young and growing up. Most of them have gone, one by one. But, even the ones that are still around – most are feeble and ailing – I do not think I have made enough effort to meet them, reconnect with thme, talk to them and say Thank You!
Yesterday, I was able to say Thank You to Moitra-Kakima!!
21 October
2023
Second notable Puja for me
We moved away from North Avenue to Ranapratap Road in Decemeber of 1979. “Ashish Market” or “Harsha Market Puja” was “our” puja. Most of the time was spent with friends just loitering around the “mandaps”, listening to the new Bengali songs released that puja season blaring on the loudspeakers (still cannot forget “Amar Pujar Phool” by Kishore Kumar – was that 1982 or 1983?), watching “dhunuchi naach” and checking out the prettily dressed girls.
I saw six Durga Pujas there – 1980, 81, 82, 83, 85 and 88.
That was our second target for the evening.
21 October
2023
Bhattacharya kakima!!!
I had two great intersection points from my trip to the Durga Puja in my old neighborhood. This is the first one.
There were these two young kids – much younger than me – that lived in a house absolutely opposite end of our street from us. We were the first house on the right. They were the last house on the left. Although we used to play soccer in a field next to their house, we never played together because they were much younger.
I also remember they were both students of my mother in the local primary school. During one of those phone conversations with old friends much later, I had found out that they still live in the same house!! And are a big part of the local Durga Puja arrangements.
After reaching the Puja “mandap”, I noticed four adults sitting in a chair by the adjoining pond. Tried to see if I could recognize any of them as Pintu or Sintu. No luck. So, I went ahead and asked them if there was a Pintu or a Sintu nearby.
Of course!!
They immediately pointed me to one gentleman inside the mandap. As you can imagine, one by one, I met the two brothers who instantly remembered us moment I gave them our names. The icing on the cake was to meet their mom – our Bhattacharya Kakima!! Kakima and I sat down and talked for a long time of the old days and what happened to the whole neighborhood folks.
That was an incredible walk down memory lane!
21 October
2023
North Avenue Pujo
One of the first pujos I went to today was the one that I used to go when I was a kid! Pujos were something we used to wait for with bated breath. That was the one time of the year we would each get one or two new set of clothes. That was when there were no rules at home. And even at my home, no studies were to be had during those four days.
It was all about getting up, putting on new clothes and making a beeline to the “puja pandal” – a temporary structure set up to hold the festival. That breathtaking percussion noise of the “dhak“, the ringing of bells from the priest, the “mantra”s being channeled thru loudspeakers, the marvelous aroma of incense sticks… it was a breathtaking experience that kicked off on the morning of “Saptami” day!
Meeting friends, playing around, bursting crackers, eating in the “pandal” … those were stuff that dreams were made of for kids that were yet to pass the first decade mark.
Went back to that same “pandal”. So many things have changed and yet, so many things have remained the same!!
21 October
2023
This never ceases to amaze me
The Bengali fear of catching a cold!!! Today, my nephew and I were walking outside around 10 PM. It was 77deg F (25 C) I was working up a sweat but he was ordered to put a hat on! And unlike me, he has a head full of hair!
I also remember my dad wearing his monkey cap at the mere prospect of the sun going down!
This picture reminded me of the good old “Thanda legey jaabey”. This was around 7:45PM and it was 81 deg F (27 C). Loved the whole head gear and muffler thing under the helmet and whatever it was that the pillion rider lady was wearing. Interestingly, he is wearing short sleeves!
There are a few salient attributes that absolutely set us apart as Bengalis. Without a shred of doubt, fear of catching a cold would crack the Top Three!!
21 October
2023
And the final surprise!
My brother in law’s family was the last one to arrive. They usually are. My brother in law has been accused of many things in life – but never ever has anybody called him punctual.
They finally settled down at the lunch table two hours after lunch had started. Sharmila was throwing a lunch party for all the families at a local restaurant. I was hiding in the adjoining bar.
And then came up from behind and after tapping on this shoulder, asked him how he was doing. He turned around and… well, you can see his face!
21 October
2023
My uncle’s family!!
This is one of the advantages of coming to Bengal during Durga Puja. You get a chance to see whole families together. There are four generations right there in the picture. My septuagenarian uncle (who can easily pass as a 50-year old), my aunt, their two daughters, (one son missing in the picture), their three sons- and daughters-in-law, one granddaughter, one grandson, one great-grandson, my own two siblings, my brother in law and my niece!!
After my parents, this uncle was the closest one to us and our family.
21 October
2023
Another family. Another surprise.
My sister and her family were driving down from Kalyani to Durgapur. You probably remember how all our families are coming over to Durgapur for Durga Puja since Sharmila is here during this time after 31 years.
They were to visit my uncle’s house and the plot was laid to surprise them there. To be very safe, my brother kept this car a little away from my uncle’s house – so my sister would not realize that anything was going on. Plus there was some tree shade.
The minute we saw their car coming, I ran upstairs and waited for all of them to come and settle down in the living room.
And then a few minutes later, I walked in to the room. My sister was still on the floor playing with the pet parrot when she saw me. Check out her reaction! And my niece, once she recognized me, nearly had a heart attack!!!
Oh! By the way, they were looking for some shade too. And had parked their car right next to my brother’s car without realizing anything!!!
21 October
2023
