Monday, February 25, 2008

Puchun Zindagi Se..

Zindagi…ankhon mein kitne haseen kwab sajati hai..
pholon se mehekte khwab
sitaron se jagmagate khwab
shabnam se baraste khwab
Phir kabhi yun bhi hota hai ki, pholon ke daliyon se,
Khwab ke sare parinde ur jate hain, aur aankhe hayran si rahe jati hai…

Puche dilse.. kyun hota hai aysa..
Ke hum soche kuch aur, ho kuch aur
Kuch aysa bhi to ho ke zindagi me nayi bahar aa jaye
Khushiyon ki nayi phuwar cha jaye
Par dilne kabhi humari pukar na suni..
Aur sare sapne kuch ayse kho gaye, ke khud hume hi pata na chala…

Dukh to nahi, par shikwah hai us uparwale se..
Kyun bhul gaye tum zindagime humari rang bharna?
Kyun bhul gaye tum khwayishe humari puri karma?

Akele me baithe, bas yahin puchun zindagi se..
Ye saza hume hi khun mili, Ke zindagi hote huye bhi zindagi hi na rahi...

Monday, February 11, 2008

Saraswati Puja

Today it is the holy occasion of Saraswati Puja.Devi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and arts (in North & North East of India).

Always the very day reminds me the time while I was at home.

Weeks before the preparation of puja will start. Almost in every house they are conducting this holy occasion. The day before puja I used to go to market with ma to get the idol. It would take quit a few hours to choose the idol of our choice. So we used to start quit earlier, by morning itself. Then the other purchasing, I mean the necessities for puja, fruits & all that. Yeah, one very important thing is to get the appointment of the priest, who’d be very busy by the time. So we’ve to book the priest some 4-5 days before itself.
The entire climate will be so nice that even the environment itself will make you happy. Everywhere they’ll play aarati songs and other puja songs in every street.
Then…the very day will come, for which we are waiting for a long while. The pervious night we would hardly sleep because of the loud music of puja songs in full volume of different artists from the clubs. But we will make ourselves sleep as the next day has to get up soon. Early in the morning (around 4.30am) we used to get up, as we have to finish the arrangement for puja. As its quite early so the climate would be bit chill too. Then after taking bath we would start our work… washing puja vessels, cleaning and washing the place, cutting the fruits and all & arrange them into plates, lighting the deepam, arranging the flowers… etc.
Then the priest will arrive. Those who want to offer anjali should not eat before the offering i.e. till the puja gets over. The puja will start. To give anjali we all sit together by taking flowers in hand. Then the chanting of puja mantra will start where we have to follow the priest. The puja will continue for some 1 or 1and half hour. After that we will take the prasadam and distribute to others.
Then we’ll get ready to go to school. Actually this is the day when all supposed to dress in a traditional Bengali. So girls used to wear and go to school and it will also be too nice to see all in colorful dresses than uniforms. As even in the school too puja will be conducting so after reaching there will become busy again with various activity. Some will help in puja arrangements; some will have to look after the guests who have come from different institutes.
Mostly we would have our lunch in school itself. That day’s special menu (almost everywhere) will be Khichuri, labra (a vegetable curry specially made only for puja) and a fried item. And to be honest it would be so good.
Then after lunch we’ll form some group and move towards different schools and others places, also to visit the goddess of those places. Only by late afternoon we used to reach our home, completing the visit of almost all the places.
Evening we used o gather for the puja conducting in our area. Even the decoration will be nice to see. They’ll play the puja songs. After evening aarati we are getting the prasadam and then get back to home. Thus the wonderful day will get over with lots of unforgettable happy moments. Jai Ma Saraswati… so in this occation let us pray to bless us with proper knowledge and intellect & be with us always..

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Its chill again!!

Hey it’s chill again! The temp of my native has come down to around 3 degree Celsius. Cool na!!
Well it would be some 6.30a.m when uncle sun will wake up. Slowly the day’s work will start. Children’s will be preparing to go to school...teens will start for their tuition/coaching class. By 11am schools will be starting for their activities. The whole day there will be charming gentle breeze. By 4.15pm classes are getting over. Even that time itself it would be about to night (while we’ll be in the mid afternoon). Birds would have started to return to their home to get the warmth. But its early from the morning itself that we have to wear sweater, shawl etc. And in the evening think what if hot samosa, bonda, bhajji, pakoura, vada will bring up to you!!! Ummm…..main marjawan… and yeah with a cup of garmagaram tea. There might be a group talk better to say a winter gossip with all these. It would be so comforting sitting by the side of fire, in this very evening. Ah! the very thought itself tempting… isn’t it? Spring has come already, but it seems still agartala is not ready to leave her darling winter.
Slowly the time passes.. serials will go on and on in T.V. but no one will be willing to come out from the comfort & warmth of the quilt… it’d be around 8.30 or 9pm when the call for dinner will come. Though there’ll not be any desire, but‘ve to come out of the bed. Dinner got over. Hmmm… its time to go to sleep (which I often referred as “nidradevi”)… that time I mean after food even the bed will attract terribly. So bidding by to all T.V programs everyone will be surrendering themselves to my dear “nidradevi”. That’s the lifestyle of a winter season. The cool, smiling nature of this great “Winter”. Missing you agartala… but really...Winter Rocks!!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Didi's Birthday

A cool morning..mom called early in the morning to wish didi for her 24th B'day...23 autumns has gone away..hope she had a nice journey. The morning has started quit fast. So I couldn’t spend much time with her..just a hearty wish. Then I’ve started for my college. Evening I‘ve gone to Ms R’s house..a sweet friend of mine.. and her mom too so lovely..also had my favorite dish there..then a little talk..meanwhile called didi and asked her to come there..later R’s dad has come..he asked me to sing something. I sang some two songs (one Rabindra sangeet and one my favorite singers’ song)..though I had no practice, they told I did well. Then it was Ms R’s turn to sing. Even she did well with two Bengali and one Hindi song. Then we all had a nice conversation. After so many yrs her dad reminded me a short story of my school days. It was so good. Then we both went to pick up sis from the stoppage. After didi has come she too requested to sing something which she likes. She started with Thakur’s (Sri Ramakrishna ParamahamshaDev) song, which is incidentally my favorite too. And then a Rabindra sangeet. Then a nice dinner completed with a delicious custard.. Then from there we’ve gone to Kalibari (as it is Amavasya, so puja was going over there). We made pranam..prayed to Mother Kali..then to other god’s..Thakur, Holy Mother, Sivan and Ganesh. As it was getting late so we haven’t wait for prasadam,I mean “khichuri”. Then back to home. On the way she was telling her day’s experience in the office..it was so good it seems..all wishes (direct and via mail) from her near and dear ones..gifts and all that.. So, thus the special day ended with a different flavor by the touch of Holy Mothers blessings.