Curtailed Moments

 A midst this pandemic situation going around and half-reading people's faces (covered in masks), it is implied frequently that our outside environment plays quite a role in our mental plays. What we give in any form to the outside depends on what we receive inside our home and from our surroundings. Graphs can be designed easily studying a human mind in different locales, particularly when there occurs a tremendous change of certain places from glittering to lying in weary condition. Though various examples can be drawn, I will focus on the most referred, the most famous, the most popular Hindu festival 'Durga Puja' also known as 'Durgotsav' this year.

T he festival which pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga which lasts for ten days with the most significant last five days namely Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. This annual celebration is one of India's grandest festivals which perpetuates the victory of goddess Durga over the devil Mahishasur according to mythology. Goddess Durga began her battle against the demon on the seventh day that is Saptami and killed him by the final day Dashami. Going by history, the first record of this festival goes back to 1500s. Since then for centuries, the festival has emerged to be a big one and thus has gained so much prominence.

W ith this deadly thing at its peak and twisted results daily, this year, the festival along with all plans have been disrupted. In Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Various Puja committees are coming up with varied alternatives to maintain this so-old culture and the much-awaited smile and lustre around. They have come with new safety measures for the smooth going of the pandal hoppers and offering them a glance of the goddess. A new concept termed as 'Drive-in-darshan' is made to allow people to slow down their vehicles and catch a glance of the pandal without getting out of their car. Social distancing norms will be strictly followed and mass gatherings will be avoided. In a normal circumstance the Puja organisers would have been creating a hype about their themes and plannings but this year there is uncertainty surrounding the sponsorship and thereby following cost-cutting measures.

This year's puja will not be a familiar one but there is one thing which drives us all for a better tomorrow and that is hope. We are hopeful. Let us all go by the song "we shall overcome" and continue the celebration with new norms and forms. Happy Durga Puja.

-Swagato Chatterjee