Durga Puja Tales
Mili Bandyopadhyay (16 years)
Since birth to 16 years old, the thrill, never-ending excitement and joy brought upon by the arrival of our sacred Maa Durga has been a constant for me. It is a time of year where I can adorn the glamourous kurtis and lehengas gifted to me by loving relatives and embrace the rich culture of being a Hindu. It is a time to celebrate and reaffirm my faith.
Whether it be the delectable aroma of the mishtis made lovingly by the mashis or the multitude of bhaja snacks constantly being fried by the uncles, there is never a shortage of food! I love the feeling of waking up in the morning and arriving at the hall ready to help out the mashis who are at the top of their game. It is amazing seeing everyone in their element. Whether it is as simple as plucking flower petals for pushpanjali or as stressful as the prasad distribution, everyone has their part in the puja. However, nothing beats the atmosphere at night where Bollywood beats are constantly blasting, and people of all skill levels of dance — from “I have no idea what I am doing” to those who have trained at specialist dance schools, are breaking it down on the dance floor!
Most of the core memories of my childhood have been formed at Durga Puja and it is not about which hall it was held in or what food was served…it was and forever will be the sense of comfort and eternal euphoria I feel for these three days every year spending it amongst my family and friends and the presence of Maa Durga. 🙏
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