Festivals are important. So is remaining safe. That’s why this year , we have little plans except praying hard and hoping for the delicious bhog from the friendly neighborhood puja.

Seeing me moping around the house my husband was trying to plan a quick trip. But imagine taking an eight-year-old on a ten-hour car journey wearing a mask! That’s why I am sharing my memories of Durga puja in Kolkata over the years, through this blog. Sharing is reliving memories.

Not a good idea.Who needs the extra stress of travel in COVID times?

So when my daughter’s school lesson involved suggestions for new transportation,my suggestion (some seen on Twitter trends  at some time of other ) came fast.Read them-

Heli-taxi a helicopter taxi already on trial in Bangalore I heard.

Personal flying suit.Its in Beta .

Flying cars.

Floo powder.

Magic carpet 

Own helicopter (more practical from the current list)

Imagination 

So my travel is settled. But what about Durga pujo?That’s on, with necessary precautions and social distancing restrictions .

I am all for social distancing and hope that this pujo will usher in better news for the world.

If you don’t know about Akal Bodhon and Durga pujo,you will like this story.

Basanti(Spring) puja of Maa Durga is the usual time of praying to Maa Durga.

But when Shri Ram wanted to rescue Sita held prisoner in Lanka by the demon king Ravana, he knew ,he needed Ma Durga” blessings to win.Behind every successful man there is often a powerful woman.????

But Maa Durga would appear only if he worshipped with 108 blue lotuses.

That was a tough one and Shri Ram could only find 107 of them.That’s when he offered one of his eyes as the 108th blue lotus.This puja Shri Rama did in Ashwin .That’s the Bengali Sharat kaal or autumn and is called Akal(not-on-time) Bodhon.Maa Durga was pleased with his devotion and blessed him.

This year the calendar is skewered and the pujo will happen right at the end of October almost a month after Mahalaya.

All over India the Navaratri,Dussehra ,Durga Puja is a time for much celebration.

Maa Durga may be worshipped in her war time avatar  with all her weapons.That’s the Shakti rupini whom we pray to.We also worship her in the Mother Goddess mode. Reverred as Maa Durga, who comes visiting with her two daughters ,Goddes Laxmi,Goddess Saraswati,her two sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartik and her husband Lord Shiva.The entire Maa Durga family is special .

The five days of Pujo that Bengalis celebrate reminds you every time about the battle of good and evil.

That good will always win.But they need to be smart too.

When you are fighting against the unscrupulous ,the dishonest,your methods need to be tailored to the problem .

For COVID 19 too we need to remain vigilant, exercise caution and continue safety measures. This festival season I will occasionally share memories of Durga puja over the years. Hope you enjoy it.

It’s a little bit of life,history and loads of memories. 

What are your plans for the festival season?

Leaving you with the Inktober day 5 sketch .