Shubho Bijoyar preeti shubhechha and bhalobasha dear friends.
I have always considered myself so lucky to have been born and raised in West Bengal. The culture of love and hospitality I grew up in has been unparalleled. It has been an embodient of pure selflessness.
One such epitome of selflessness and love was the time of Bijoya, starting with Durga Pujo.
Bijoya would be the days following the 10th day of Durga Puja. And it would continue till Lakshmi Puja. Well kind of unwritten rule.
In addition to the four days of Durga Puja, we kids would be eagerly looking for Bijoya. While the four days of durga puja would be super exciting, hopping from pandals to pandals, eating everywhere, an unlimited carnival of fun and bliss, Bijoya was of a different league.
During Bijoya, the festivites would reach home. Every day we would go to our neighbors's homes, touch the elders' feet, take blessings and get ready to be fed the delicacies. No appointments needed. We would just hop from home to home. It was like a ticket to a house. We would be carefully using that ticket. Not too many tickets to be used in a single day 😃 . Nothing would be more exciting than Bijoya to kids. We would go in bunches.
While it was not surprising as a kid, ever since I have wondered in amazement how the awesome kakimas kept a perennial supply of narkel nadus (both sugar based and jaggery based), limkis, pithes, freshly made ghughni and payesh all the time? Just how did they get that energy to do it every day ? This love, this celebration has been unparalleled. And thats what makes me nostalgic every year, the beauty of durga puja celebration.
As the Bijoya would end with Lakshmi Puja, Lakshmi puja would be another elegant affair. So many families would invite my dad and ask him to bring family along, we would hop on dad's scooter, excited to go to different uncle/aunty's house. Excitement of the yummy khichudi, cabbage torkari and tomato/date chutney. Rule of thumb : Eat little at each place. So many houses to cover :-)
Yes, I know its all about food. But believe me, one of the beauties of Bengali cultures is the love for food. Everyone is expected to show that level of hospitality.
Dont know how many years since I had been to Bijoya.
Feeling like going back to home town, knock on some random door and say "Kaku Shubho Bijoya. Kakima, Shubho bijoya".
And I am sure the kakima/kaku, without even knowing me, will say "Oh shubho bijoya. Ashirbaad kori. Esho esho. Ektu ghughni aar narkel naadu kheye jaao ? " That love. Unparalleled. That Durga Pujo season. Pure bliss.
Durga Pujo eshegelo. Durga Pujo Choleo Gelo. Nostalgic. Nostalgic. 😔
