Post - Poojo musings

This year Poojo happened later than usual , so you could feel the nip late at night and in the early mornings. Though I really did not see the early mornings after the late nights .... Till about last year we had three late night groups at our "Mainak" Poojo pandal - Baba and his friends playing cards and arguing away to glory, Chibu and his group of friends and us the middle-aged and the middle path types. 
Its nice to see that our children feel  the same bond that we used to have for Poojo. They get together for the "Chanda"collection (and merrily take part  in the argument that follows over the contributions  ) and the "Thakur ana" and the decorations and "natok " rehearsals and  "bhog poribeshon ". I am at times amazed to see even Chibu behaving in a socially responsible manner.
 And for me those are the days that I go back to my home, my room- feel young once again as our almost- pushing -50-girl gang giggles and gossips and end up having ice-cream at Mamma Mia on Park Street footpath post mid -night almost every year as a ritual.
This year the crowd during lunch time was less- there weren't as many batches as it used to be. So many of my parents generation are no more- in fact this time Baba too was  sluggish and unwell, signs that revoke my fear of mortality and death.
Goddess Durga always ends up evoking the dichotomous feelings in me - the contradictions in life, the travails- of loving like a mother yet being unforgiving to the demons within as well as the ones that surround me ! Of being strong and vulnerable - a woman and a child  !
I always look up to her for strength in my mind, spirit and health , and  by God I need plenty right now !