Lifebites...

“ Hey! How many did you get this year?” “I got 6, what about you?” “What’s the plan this year?” “Let’s cover south in Sashti and Saptami, and let us keep north for Astami eve and Nabami. What say?” “You guys carry on ya, I am going to Shimla with family this year. Will miss the Puja here though!” These are very common examples of conversation lines during Durga Puja every year for the youth and kids of Kolkata. The numbers are that of new dresses they got this year for Puja and the plan is about pandal hopping where they are dividing the city into north and south for better planning. Actually the planning starts well ahead. And why not? After all the whole year of any Bong just rotates around the 4-5 days of Puja. We save our leaves, plan our vacations, complete our shopping, or save our new dresses, anticipate our bonuses only for these 5 days- MahaSashti to Bijaya Dasami. While some plan for pandal hopping, some take this time to escape into rejuvenation and go for the annu...

Be Game! “Be Game” is not the absence of fear, rather it is the willingness to walk through it. It isn’t a calculated risk, it is just a risk! It isn’t about safety nets and guarantees and assurances, It’s about you, the tight rope and the blue sky above! It isn’t about later, it’s about sooner. It should be at the top of your mind And dwell at the bottom of your soul! And before it surprises you, one thing’s for sure.. It will scare the hell out of you! I found these lines in one of the brand tags of a jeans I bought as a part of my Durga Puja shopping. Yes, Durga Puja is the most awaited event of any bong’s year. Our whole calendar revolves around these 5 days. That time of the year is here now. Am I excited? Like hell! Is this article about that? No, this time it’s about something else. When I read the above lines, I realized a long forgotten thing- What Durga Puja actually means? Of late, the autumn fest has been a means to lose your hard earned money ...

Everything is just so colourful, so shiny. It’s  all smiles and laughter and so very bright. Festivities and celebrations are in the air. Even in the day you feel an extra glow. The whole city is filled with joy. Yes, it’s the city of Joy. It’s my Kolkata.  Yes, my Kolkata. No, I don’t stay particularly in Kolkata. I hail from a small town, Ramrajatala, Howrah. And I am proud of it. But Kolkata is as much mine as it is of any other person staying in Kolkata. Actually, I feel lucky to be staying in Howrah, I get to see and pray to the holy Ganges through the spectacularly lit Hoogly bridge or Second bridge (as we call it locally) twice everyday I am out, which is sometimes the only place of relief and cool breeze. I also get to see all the special tourist attractions of Kolkata, Howrah bridge, Hoogly bridge, Victoria Memorial and the cultural centre of Rabindra Sadan every single day. Tell me how many kolkata staying folks get this lucky every day? We may not even realize...