Durga Puja is a time of festivities and celebration, but there is a lot more than this. Somehow we might be aware of most of it, but we overlook them for obvious reasons. In this post I have decided to throw some light on these untouched but common things that we come across. To do this I decided to cover the all-round perspective of the people involved in it directly and indirectly.
- Fruit Seller
I went to the nearby market early morning at 7 to buy fruits, as asked by my mom for puja. I asked Jawed Chacha (the fruit seller) to pack a dozen of bananas and 1 kg apple. We had known each other for a long time so we exchange pleasantries on meeting him. As there were many people there so I had to wait for my chance to come and in the meanwhile I started the conversation.
Me: Aur Chacha, sb khairiyat?
Jawed: Ha beta, shandaar, zabardast, zindabaad!!
I laughed and said, to aap bhi dekh lie picture (Manjhi) on which he laughed.
Me: Chacha badhiya waala Chun ke dijiega!
Jawed: Beta, Wo bolna nahi parega. Hum jaante h nahi to didi (my mom) aapko phir se bhejengi. Puja me aapko kharab cheez denge, to humko bhi paap lagega! Subah 5 baje se isi kaam me lage h, saara achha waala Chun ke alag kie hai, kyuki puja ke lie aaj sab lenge
Now you might be thinking what’s new in this? Every fruit-seller tells the same dialog to all the customers, but somewhere this man is aware of the religious sentiments of the customers and makes an extra effort to ensure that everyone gets the best. From this what I understood is there may be forces existent whose sole motive is to create communal rift but there are people from both the communities who rise above all and understand religious sentiments. I believe and pray that the latter group thrives and there is communal harmony in India.
- A Policeman
A friend of mine is a member of a Durga Puja Organizing Committee. So he requested me to stay with him in the evening and help in coordination. Apparently I had no plans for that day, so I agreed. There were few police constables who were there, regulating the people to follow the queue and managing the crowd. They changed their turns after sometime. So I managed to start a conversation with Mishra Ji, the head constable.
Me: Sir, Prashad lijie. Aaplog kitna ghanta se duty de rhe yaha par?
Mishra Ji: Ghanta mat bolo babu, lagbhag pura din to duty rehta h.
Me: Tb to aapka ghumna nhi hua kahi bhi!
Mishra Ji: Aaplog ghumie safely, isi me humlog khush h. Humlog ko aadat ho gya h parab tyohaar me duty karne ka.
You might be wondering again, what’s great that they are doing? They earn a lot during the Puja (illegally). But let me put it up in this way, If I give you 500 Rs and tell you to abandon your plans to enjoy with your family, friends and sit at one place with the same old rusty uniform and look others having fun and enjoying. Perhaps I doubt there would be anyone who would happily accept my offer.
There are many more people who are responsible so that we enjoy the festivals and the least we could do is acknowledge it and thank them for the services that they do for us.
