Kolkata - The Khoob Bhalo Trip!!!

They say, 'People don't take trips. Trips take people'. I assent, because trips not only give you an experience, but also memories to cherish.

Well, not too long ago, I found myself fortunate enough to take a trip to Kolkata in the month of October 2015, at a time when perhaps, Kolkata is at its cultural and glamorous best.

A very kind friend Rahul Roy (not the Aashiqui star) alias Samurai (that's what I call him) invited me and another Shraddha Katole to Kolkata, his home-town, for the occasion of Durga Pooja. And little did I know that, it would turn out to be one of the best trips ever. In fact, it was my first trip outside Mumbai and all thanks to Rahul and his family (indeed, very cordial people) with whom we had the pleasure of staying and experience the festival of Durga Pooja.

(From left to right Rahul Roy, Shraddha Todankar (Myself) and Shraddha Katole) 

20th October 2015 to 22nd October 2015:
Durga Pooja, as we all know, a festival which epitomizes the victory of Good over Evil, is celebrated to worship Ma Durga, the Goddess of Power. As a Mumbaikar, I have seen a good amount of festivals and traditions since my childhood, but celebrating Durga Pooja in Kolkata turned out to be an extraordinary experience.

For us, the celebration started from the day of Saptami (the day when we landed in the city of joy) followed by Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. And I realised that, I would not have been able to witness those set of rituals performed for all the three days anywhere else than in Kolkata.

(Pandals displaying the extraordinary artisanship and creativity)

Most of the pandals and the sculptures that we visited were theme based which elaborately displayed the creative and artistic flamboyance of Durga Pooja in Kolkata. 

The city, in its own sense, is living in the colors, astounding art and the glamour of the festival, giving you a glimpse of the rich, cultural heritage that Kolkata is renowned for.

(Idols of Goddess Durga in avatars of Spider-web Durga, Glamorous Durga and Katputli (Puppet) Durga)

On the final day of Bijoya Dashmi, we were lured to the irresistible beats of the Dhak (drum) and danced the Dhunuchi Naach. Dhunuchi Naach (yes, the same dance which we saw in the Hindi film "Parineetaa") is performed to appease Goddess Durga by holding or balancing the "Dhunachi" an earthen bowl containing burning incense with hands.

(Image taken during our Dhunuchi Dance)

We also had the opportunity to be a part of an age old ritual called Sindur Khela in which married women apply vermilion (Sindur) on the Goddess’s feet or forehead and then start smearing it to all the married women around.

(Prayers being offered to the Goddess in the form of Sindur)

(Merry women applying Sindur to each other during Sindur Khela)

This ritual (as far as I learnt) is celebrated by married women to wish for a long and happy life of her spouse. What an amazing way to bid goodbye to the Goddess (idol) who was then taken for immersion at one of the Ghats of the river Ganga.

(The Goddess' Idol being taken for immersion)

23rd October 2015:

With all the hustle from Saptami to Dashami, we had planned our sight seeing in Kolkata on the 23rd October 2015 considering the busy schedule of Rahul (our Travel guide).

And the very first place that we went to was Victoria Memorial, the incredibly beautiful structure of white marble which is considered as the "Pride of Kolkata". 

Though we reached there after the closing hours, we still managed to have some good pictures of the monument from the exterior and I could not thank Rahul enough for taking us there.

(The beautiful Victoria Memorial, Kolkata)

We, then, headed towards the Princep Ghat, which is built along the Kolkata bank of the Hooghly River in India and the view at the ghat was just so breath-taking.

(The Vidyasagar Setu at the Prinsep Ghat and the Prinsep Memorial overlooked by the Vidyasagar Setu)

(Prinsep Ghat Railway Station)

With less amount of time in our hand, on our way back home, we took a short ride on the Howrah Bridge. Such an iconic landmark of the city, I must say. The Howrah Bridge is also known as Rabindra Setu after the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore (which I learnt while writing this blog).

(Picture of the iconic Howrah Bridge)

I would not want to miss out on mentioning about having passed by the Eden Gardens for the fact that, it is the largest cricket stadium in India and I feel so boastful with a mere thought of just being in front of it.

(Yellow Ambassador Taxi - had to capture this vintage Queen)

(Hand Pump - very rarely seen in Mumbai)

There's not just one reason but many for me to affirm that, Kolkata is the cultural capital of India. And food, as we know, goes hand-in-hand with culture. I had heard a lot about the Bengali food, but never thought that, I would get to savor this cuisine in Kolkata itself, the land which will never disappoint food lovers.

(Kolkata Special - Kulhad Chai after a long shopping spree)

My five-days long trip to Kolkata turned out to be a real feast for my taste-buds. With delicacies like Sandesh, Rosogolla, Chanar Payesh, Mishti doi (sweetened curd) being served to me everyday increased my sweet tooth. Also to mention butter fried fish, the famous Phuchkas, Luchis and so many other delicacies added to my gluttony.

24th October 2015:

Though this memorable trip to Kolkata was to come to an end as Mumbai awaited our arrival, there was so much that I was taking along with me.

Just as they rightly said, Kolkata is a city you ‘feel’ more than simply visit. From the little that I saw and experienced, I say little is because, I am certainly not content with just one visit and Kolkata deserves a re-look for sure.

"Asche Bochor, abar hobe"....

Dad! Please grant me my wish on your birthday

Hey Dad,

Today would have been your 62nd birthday. I really wanted to say Happy Birthday Baba!!!
I miss you so much..
Its 5 years since you've gone and you know what, the fact that you're gone still touches my nerves that are raw, but I wont be sad because I know you're around us, watching us, holding our hands before we could tremble and even if we tremble, you're protecting us from hitting the ground.
Dad, your voice still echoes in my ears when you used to wake me up to study. Your soothing smile and the spark in your eyes enhancing the wrinkles on the sides, still flash in front of my eyes. But, when I wake up to reality and don't find you around, the thought of having lost you forever, still scares me. I know I've to convince myself, then I think of all what you've taught us which gives me the strength and I get the zeal to smile.
Daddy, I wish you were here to read what I feel for you. You would come to know, if I was to write a story ever, it would, undoubtedly, be the greatest ever told and I feel like a proud " Daddy's Girl", of a kind and a loving father. You've been a father who has taken the sunburn in the summers, pours in the monsoon and the shivers in winter, but has still made his 3 daughters smile and have all what they deserved.
Only regret in life that I'll carry till my last breath is, I couldn't get a chance to earn for you and show you how ,capable your teachings have made me.
Dad, you saw me come in this world but I had to see you go, which really hurts me a lot. I wish I could make you stay with us forever, which remains unfulfilled. But now, I add one more wish to my wishlist which you've to grant and that is, to be re-born as your daughter for all the remaining life times to come..
I love you Baba!!!
Really miss you everyday..
Happy Birthday once again..

Old hands at work

Today morning was a little unusual one, not just because of the rains, but an unforgettable train journey that I had from Vashi to Wadala. I call it unusual & unforgettable, because of these 2 old ladies I saw traveling in the same compartment as mine (who I guess, were heading to their workplace). The reason why I mention about these 2 old ladies, is because I was so touched and was compelled to pen down the below few lines. I almost got a lump in my throat thinking what circumstances must be compelling them to work at this old age, wherein, they are supposed to be playing with their grandchildren and resting at home, instead.

 

Old Hands at Work

I sit, laid back in the train,

Looking outside the window,

A hand reaches me for support,

That of an old widow.

She sits, making herself some space,

And I suddenly get a glance of a tired face,

That is yet so fresh and voice like a chirp,

Those old hands at work.

She wakes up before the alarm clock,

To prepare food for her family,

There’s no single duty she can shirk,

Those old hands at work.

That old skin with wrinkles,

Still managing to smile with dimples,

In life, been through not just one jerk,

Those old hands at work.

With a pearl (cataract) in the eye,

Reaching for dreams in the sky,

No luxuries, no perk,

Those old hands at work.

All I can do is wish and pray

For some  relief and happiness to stay,

For the shivering hands so thin, still sterk,

Those old hands at work.