Rain rain go away

Oh no, not another day like this! Not today, not till the puja ends! This must be the collective prayer of rain-battered Kolkattans. As the puja days are nearing, and the rains showing no signs of abating, it is anybody’s guess what lies ahead. Yet this was not so even a few days back. Bright sun shone on the day of Viswakarma Puja, and a few kites here and there and blaring of film songs made good of whatever felt short on a puja day in Kolkata.

The scene started changing a day after Viswakarma Puja, and turned worse thereafter. The puja spirit that was so much in evidence few days back, is ebbing gradually. Would-be pandals are heavily waterlogged, but what saddens more is that water from everywhere has entered into houses in low areas. For many of them, puja will be more of managing water than enjoying festivities.


Mahalaya of another year - hope abounds (Picture source)

Today incidentally is mahalaya, the day male believers remember forefathers on the banks of Hooghly-cum-Ganga. One may easily imagine what it has been today with incessant rain beating every moment. From tomorrow, debipaksha starts, marking the beginning of Maa Durga’s homecoming. Despite the bleakness all around, there is no letting up of hope that the puja days will turn out bright and joyful. Will it be so? Let me keep my fingers crossed.