Season’s Changing

Autumn’s midway.

Mornings begin with a chill in the air. Midday sun is strong. Afternoons get dark quickly. Evenings are early. Nights are again cold.

But it’s the festive season.

Yesterday was Dashami – the (tenth) day of immersion of the idol of Devi Durga. It’s a day of sadness for all Bengalis who look up to the Goddess as their own family member, fondly addressed as Maa. She had arrived on the Shashthi (the sixth day of the lunar month of Ashwin) with her two sons and two daughters to her Maika or mother’s place. She left too soon.

But the Bengalis know how to celebrate. So viraha or separation gives way to milan or meeting. Till Deepawali that is the next Amavasya or moonless night it will be Bijoya Sammelani for all Bengalis who will visit friends and relatives with mishtis or sweets to exchange greetings of the season.

Vijaya Dashami is also celebrated as Dusshera to commemorate Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana. The giant effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnaad and his brother Kumbhakarna are burnt to signify the victory of good over the evil. As the effigies are torched the crackers inside burst into flames which pollute the air. A pall of smoke hangs over the city getting denser and denser till Deepawali or the Festival Of Lights converting the city into an asphyxiating gas chamber.  Now who is being evil?

Deepawali celebrates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom in Ayodhya which he had renounced to fulfill his step mother, kaikai’s demand that he relinquish the throne and spend the life of a forester for fourteen years (Vanvaas). Lord Rama’s subjects were so delighted to have him back as their king  that they lit thousands of diyas turning the night into a day.

Diyas have now been substituted with Chinese lights and bursting crackers and fireworks have become an integral part of celebration which again intensifies the pollution.

This is also the time when Delhites become prone to  various kinds of viral infections, the pollution being one of the main catalysts. As we rejoice we also harm the environment and the ecology without caring  for the other living beings on earth who are adversely impacted by the loud noises and thickening pollution around. This year the noisy crackers have started bursting a month preceding the festival.

On the Maha Ashtami or the eighth day of the Durga Puja I visited the Puja Pandal (community celebration) to offer flowers (Pushpanjali) to the deity which is done along with chanting of mantras  eulogising the deity in her various forms – as a warrior , as a mother and as the supreme spiritual power. The Pushpanjali is a group worship where one very kind co-devotee passed on the seasonal virus to me.  And the rest need not be elaborated.

In brief, on account of the busyness of Puja and the viral infection I have been compelled to be away from WP. But now as I am gradually recovering I intend to pick up the threads and read, like, comment on posts of my friends and co–bloggers.

Wishing you all a very Happy but Safe Dusshera.

Stay glowing with Health and Prosperity.