Of home and away

The Durga Puja is the most important festival for Bengalis and among the more important ones in India. The festivities observed in Calcutta during this period is unmatched in any other location in terms of scale, grandeur, atmosphere and joie de vivre.

While I have been able to visit Calcutta very rarely over the past 10 years, I've always felt restless if I couldn't see at least one idol during this period. This time round I was in a different country but I went to the only place where they celebrate this occasion.

As we were approaching the place we were greeted by the sound of the Dhakkis. It gladdened my heart. Every year when I witness the idol for the first time I am overcome with a sense of awe and stupefaction. In a way seeing the idol every year helps me revisit almost unconsciously or maybe even sub-consciously the happy memories attached to this period during my yesteryears and confirms to me that there are a few good things in life that remain unchanged with time.

Lunch comprised of the "bhog" that we got - which was traditional Indian food which was always welcome. Rest of the day was spent strolling around Paris with a friend and some pleasant conversation.

The day ended with a visit to a bookstore called "Shakespeare and company" which is an English bookstore like no other I have seen in any parts of the world. There is a lot one could say about this and I hope to spend some of my Saturday afternoons reading a book in the many cozy corners that this shop provides and probably participate in the weekly writer's meeting (although I would hardly call myself one at the moment)