Pujor Gondho

amar chhelebelar shohor tatey firtey ekhono pray ek maash baki... taai, apatato aaro ek mash tuktak hapittesh aar opekhha kora chhara onyo kono upaay nei. shorot eshe gechhe, pujo-w aschhe -- maa durga kintu eibar besh khanikta late. ekdike hoyto bhaloi hoechhe, asha kora jaay borsha-rani totodine bangladeshke sobuje sajiye aar bangalike ileesh mach khaiye "onno kothao, onno kono khaney" udhhao hobe... atoeb, pujor kota din bodhoy tini aar bhasaben naa, antatoh amar moto anek bangalir-e eta thik ei muhurter 'wishful thinking' bola jete paare...

amar shohor-ta kano eto beshi important? amar shohore penja tulor megh achhe, kochi baansh-aar shiuli phool-er gondho achhe, potoparaay ganga mati kete murti gorar torjor achhe, 'pujo marketing' achhe, rasta
bondho kore pandal toirir hujug achhe, pujor gaan, pujor khaoadaoa, pujor prem, pujor chhuti --
sob achhe. aar sob theke beshi kore achhe ekta tulonaheen uddiponar amej aar bandhonhara amudey uchhash -- bangali paareo botey!

ta dekhte dekhte, gyanato anekgulo pujoi katiye felechhi... haan, ta about more than a score of years... but strangely, protyek bochhor bayoser sathe sathe uddipona ta barchhe boi komchhe naa. doinondin jiboner gheratopey, jeebikar tagide je hatobhagara amar moto bidesh-bibhui-e pore achhe -- nijer bari chhere, apon jon der chhere besh khanikta duure, i'm sure - quite evidently, tader aneker-e golpota thik amar moto...

bigoto dosh-ponero bochhore prithibi-ta anek anek bodle gechhe. ashepasher chhobi - manushjon-er bhabna chinta - rajnoitik totha orajnoitik poribesh - scientific advancements - amader songoskriti - emon ki kolkata shohorer durga pujor arombor o upodhoukon -- sob kichhu... atoeb, globalization ba eisob inevitable changes-gulo niye ajothha kothar kochkochi kore labh nei... barong, jeta niye shuru korechhi setate firey ashi... amar nijer trysts with durga pujo-related memories aar thik ei muhurte janlar pashe bosey
seisob-er reminiscence...

chhotobelar pujo ta -- hmmmmmm, chhotobelar pujo bolte mone porey -- ek mash school theke pujor chhuti, Gariahat-e pujor kenakatar bheer, chokher samne Ekdaliya-r pujor pandel-ta ektu ektu kore toiri hote dekha, kota notun jamakapor holo thoter dogay taar hisheb rakha aar barbar mone mone guney neoa aaro kotogulo hotey pare, ei sob. amar school-er prothomdik kar best friend, ora protibar puja vacation-e kothao na kothao berate jeto, amra kokhono jaini... pujor somoy kolkatar baire thaka-ta je ekta batulota
seta bodhoy ebhabei sei chhottobela theke amar modhye inculcated hoe gechhilo... berate jabei jodi jaao na bapu -- goromer chhuti-te jaao, christmas holidays-e jaao, nidenpokhhe pujor 5-ta din baad diye-i nahoy jaao...

ami chirokal shohore manush, south calcutta to be specific -- so, bangali mindframe-e durga pujor sathe kash phool-er dola, ba Apu-Durga-r kashboner bhitor diye doure doure train dekhte jaoa-ta -- sotti kotha bolte thik sei bhabe relate korte pari naa... tobe, mamarbarir bagane ekta bishal shiuli gachh chhilo... sei gachhtay protibar sesh borshar sathe sathe kuri dhorto, ekrokom bola jaay setai chhilo amar durga pujor harbinger.
bolai bahulyo school-e chhuti porte tokhono anek derii, taai agotta din gona shuru. chhutir diney kotobaar oi bagane shiluli phool tulte giye shuyopoka mariyechhi, ekbar toh haat-eo chotke felechhilam... kintu ashwiner sokale, shishir bheja ghashe shiuli kuronor byapartai chhilo onnorokom. shuyopoka-r abar bhoy ki, Didu paan sajaar baksho theke ektu chun lagiye dilei sob thik. Didu, maane amar dida -- tar kachhei chhuch-suto
aar oi shiuli diye amar prothom mala bananor haatey-khori. barir thakurer jonyo chhoto chhoto shiuli phool-er mala baniye ditam. aar seriously, i mastered the art pretty fast. pujor chhuti sesh holei abar porikhha, taai season-ta upobhog koro ba na koro, "esechhe shorot himer porosh legechhe haoar torey" -- robi thakurer deoa ei bornona-ta comma-daari somet mukhostho kintu howa chaai... tobe, pujor kota din boi-khatar paath ekebarey bondho... maa-o jor korto naa.

sei somoy mohaloyar din bhor rattire uthhe radio-te Birendra Krishna Bhadrer chandipaath-er mahatyo ta thik bujhte partam naa. ager din raate hothat, barir purono radio-ta thik achhe kina boroder seta janar tagid dekhe bujhtam byaparta besh important nirghaat ota kono ekta sekele obhyesh... amar barong tv-te mohishasurmordini dekhte beshi bhalo lagto. ekhon ei kotha ta bolte bolte nijeke sottie boka lagchhe, baah hoyto ami benefit of doubt peye jete pari ei boley je tokhono it was in the process of this bangali in the making... ekhon bujhi bochhorer oi din-tay radio-te oi bhodroloker golay stotropaathh na shunle bangalir pujo shuru hoy naa, hotey pare naa - "Rupang Dehi Jayang Dehi Yasho Dehi Disho Jahe" gangay torpon ar surjjo pronam-er modhye diye Mahalayay debipokhher suchona holeo, Maa bolto durga thakur naki saptami-r din bhor belay martte pouchhoy... aar taai, saptami-r din bhor rattire durga fal diye barir choukathh-e saat-ta phonta diley, Maa durga khushi hoye amader bari theke ghurey jabe -- ekbar eshe gele jete naa debar fondi-ta oboshyo amar chhilo. taai proti bochhor bhor rattire ghum theke uthhey thakumar chandan piritay chandan ghoshey barir sobkota dorjar choukathe phonta ditam. maa durga toh aar bashi ghar-dorey asbe naa, taai ghar-dor porishkar korbar dayitto-ta Maa-i nito... surjjodoyer sathe sathe parar pujor pandel theke bheshe asto dhaker bol -- maane, durga pujo shuru!!!

jokhon arektu boro holam, maane class 7-8 aar ki... tokhon pujo-ta khanikta bodlalo... kono guardian chhara, sudhu bondhura miley thakur dekhte beronor permission paoa jete laglo. tokhon-e shuru prothom prothom pujor prem -- aamader chheleder moto, obviously meyerao tader dal-bal niye thakur dekhte beroto... hothat kono pujor pandel-e kauke dekhe ektu bhalo lagle, chokhachokhi ebong within a fraction of a second taake isharay bujhiye deoa moner sobta -- jodi se mukh ghuriye nilo toh "who cares" ekta bhab dekhiye pandel theke beriye jaoa aar jodi by any chance sei kishoritir mukhe ek chilteo hashi dekha jaay, tahole Jatayu-r moto "apnake toh cultivate korte hochhe moshai" marka ekta hashi diye por por koekta pandel-e take follow kora with 'no implications intended' ekta attitude niye... kokhono kokhono kotha bolar sujog hoye jeto abar kokhno hoto-w naa, kintu ekta byapar osshikar korar kono jayga nei, je, seisob prem ektaao kintu lokhhi pujo porjontow goray ni. bondhura ghurte beronor onumoti paoa jachhe boley je barir loker sathe pujoy somoy katabo naa, setao sombhob noy... taai jaate sob dik-e bojay thakey aar akher e labh-ta amar-e hoy -- ashole, muul lokkho chhilo koto beshi thakur dekha jay aar ki. ami bhag kore niyechhilam, sokal goriye bikel porjonto bondhura e pandel se pandel ghurleo, sondhebelay kintu maa-bappur sathe berono chaai-e chaai... edik odik ghora aar prochur prochur bhalo mondo khaoa daoa -- fuchka, ice cream, fish fry, cutlet -- kono kicchui baki thakto naa

bangalir kachhe pujor khaoa daoa ta essentially guruttopurno ekta byapar... sei niye kotha bola ekbar shuru korle sesh korata sotti khub mushkil hobe... but, beyond everything, jeta naa bolle ekebarey thik hobe na seta hochhe -- ashtami-r din sokale anjali diye bari firey garom garom luchi ar chholar daal aar nabami-r din rewaji pathar mangsho -- chobbo-choshyo-lejjhho-peyo jaai hok na kano, ei duto jinis chhara pujo ta thik pujo hoy naa... antatoh amar toh hoy-e naa. thik tamon-e bijoya dashami te nimki, chhoto chhoto shukno goja aar narkel deoa ghugni ta mussstttt... NAAH, ami ekhhuni ekhhuni bijoya niye bhabteo chainaa

firey ashi arektu borobelakar pujoy -- tokhon high school ba early grads. tokhon pray amra sobai chutiye prem korchhi and mind it, puppy-loves noy... besh serious relationships... atoeb, bandhobikuuler abirbhabe pujo ekta notun matra pelo. anek chena obhyesgulo bodlateo holo, paaye hente saraa shohor toto kora bondho korte holo sobar aagey... ashole preyoshira sobai baadh na sadhleo, tader notun stilleto porar phoskagulo atota considerate hoto naa -- bangali chhelera hujuge holey ki hobe, chivalrous at the
end of the day. taai agotta pocket gorer maath kore kono decent restaurant-y bhojonadi ebong Durga Bari ba Maddox-e boshe adda. kheyal rakhte hoto kon kon parar pujo mondope jaoa jabe naa -- karon ta khub simple, jodi kono bandhobir barir lok dekhe fele, tahole high chance baki pujota mati... ei somoy-tatey proti bochhor amar ekta ekrokom self-imposed dayitto thakto aar seta hochhe Didu-ke sokaler dike rickshay kore thakur dekhano. naa naa, ekhono amar dida serokom oti bayohjjeshthha thurthure buri hoye jaeni, tokhon toh aaroi chhilo naa. ashol plan ta hochhe Didu-ke sondhebelar bheer theke bachano aar thakur dekha sesh holey Dida-nati-te pet purey bhalo mondo kheye bari fera. nijeke besh ekta responsible adult mone hoto. besh gorbo kore bondhuder boleochhi koekbar "naare, amar saptami-r sokal-ta hobe naa,
Didu ke niye ektu berobo." ashole, sei somoy alada kore serokom kaj-er bhaar toh keu dito naa. taai ekrokom jechei esob kora aar ki... chhoto chhoto bhalo lagaa aar anekta bhalobasha.

oi somytatey Kolkatar pujor arombor drastically anek ta bere gechhe. pollibashir involvement ba sobai ke niye anondo, hoi hullor korar theke commercialized competition-guloy e beshi mon diyechhe shohorer pujogulo -- aar jodi kono political neta ba real estate agent-er patronage thakey tahole toh kothai nei... Asian Paints diye je sharod sommangulo shuru hoyechhilo, brand visibility baranor jonyo sobai ekhon kichhu na kicchu puroshkar dite chaay... sera protima, sera pandel chharo, dekha gelo kothao kono local Energy Drink-er company sera ashur-er prize dichhe toh shohorer kono naamjaada mishtir dokan ganesh-er sera bhuri-r jonyo puroshkar ghosona korchhe... prize jaar jonyei hok, uddokta-ra kichhu ekta pelei khushi... aar ei protijogitar propaganda-r majhe puro domey shuru hoe gechhe theme-er pujo. kothao papad ba biscuit ba matir hari, kolshi, kolke diye toiri hochhe devi murti toh kothao aloor- khosha, shamuker khol, jhhanta kathi ba hogla pata diye toiri hochhe mondop. eshob-ee je otinandonik ba soundorjjobisistho hochhilo, taa noy. ei byapartay kono ojana karone ami ektu beshie conservative... amar chirokal mone hoechhe nothing beats the sabeki ekchalar protima -- maa-er sei tanatanaa raagi chokh athocho mukhe ek smito hashi, the perfect jagojjjononi roop. aneke hoyto arguement rakhte paren je somoyer sathe sathe change ta khub important. theme-er pujo sei bodoler e porichayok. amar mone hoy other than providing a temporary employment to
quite a few needy artisans aar kokhono kokhono to a mere extent banglar kichhu purono sangoskritik oitijjhho-ke tule dhora chhara, theme er pujor pokhhopati ami atleast konodin hote parbo na. i mean, come on -- ghutey-koyla diye toiri durga thakur! eta mene neoaa jaay??? kintu eto kotha jokhon bollam-e, amar bola uchit somosto theme pujor uddoktara kintu okaron thematic festivity te biswas koren naa -- theme-er pujo holeo shohorer dokhhine shibmondir, badamtola ba bosepukur-er pujo gulor jothhesto charusommoto ekta appeal roechhe, karon taara kothao ekta nijeder bendhe niyechhe and they've never gone over the board.

sobkichhui ekhon brand aar ei brand Durga pujo celebration-e abal-bridhho-bonita -- sobai samil... tobe TV-te shalimar narkel tel ba thumbsup er pujo special advertisement-gulo pujor essence ta ekebarey bangali-r andarmahale pouchhe diyechhilo. "ei pran dhala utsab-e barbar... aalo asha, bhalo basha mishey ekakar"

bangalir baaro mashey tero parbbon niye besh cholchhilo... kintu seigulo baad diley... when it came to thinking about career opportunities, porashona seshe nijer paaye daranor upaay thahor kora -- shohor-takey khub boka mone holo. sobkichhu jano ekta jang dhora nongor-ey stalled hoe gechhe... taai agotta amar somobayoshi aneker moto, ekrokom bhaggyo jachai kortei onyo ekta shohore, sompurno onyo ekta jaygaay paliye gelam...

dubochhor management porakaleen amar prothom kolkata-r baire durga pujo... chhuti paini. emonki mone achhe, ashtami-r din du-duto porikhha chhilo. jehetu deshei chhilam aar fortunately bombay-poona-teo besh kichhu bengali association-er uddoge durga pujo hoy, dhaker awaj, sondharoti aar pujor bhog-ta puropuri miss korte hoyni. kintu coat-tie-er formal uniform-e ashtami-r anjali deoata ekta experience of a lifetime... anjali diye college-er pothey jete jete maa-ke ekta phone korechhilam... jani na kano gola-ta hothat dhorey esechhilo... khub kanna pachhilo... maa durga-r festive celebration-e nijer maa-er theke duure thaka-ta -- is seriously a pain, i tell U.

need less to mention, amar college-er bangali bondhuder haal-o amar-e moton. ichhe thakleo upaay nei. saradin college korey,  raat dupure sobai miley -- anek ta duure ekta pujo pandel-e jetam... tarpor temporary stall gulote bangali khabar kheye, majhraat obdi adda diye bari fera. firte hotoi, porer din abar porikhha je... tobe, there's no denying that kolkatar bairei hok, arr hajaaro ekta unwanted reservations-e hok bangalir hujug kintu kome naa...sebarer pujo ta chhilo notun bondhutter pujo... college-er onno department-er acquaintance ra hothat khub kachher bondhu hoye giyechhilo... ek bochhor agey release kora Anjan Duttar cinemar naam-ta amrai bodhoy jothajotho morjada diyechhilam... wherever you might be, the Bong Connection always binds U.

er porer bochhortaao pujote Kolkata firte parini. ekta documentary shoot korar ojuhaatey Bombay chole giyechhilam -- amar college-eri ek khub kachher bondhur barite. seo bangali kintu unlike me, entirely brought up in Bombay. tulonamulok-bhabey Pune-r theke anek beshi durga pujo hoy okhane. kakima-r haat-er ranna kheye aar edik sedik pandel e shoot kore besh mojatei ketechhilo sebar. Bombay te hiranandani ba lokhandwala-r pujo dekhle monei hobar jo nei je tumi kolkatar baire... sebarer pujoy 3-te jinis jante perechhilam -- i) manush sottie obbhesher dash karon eibar pujoy kolkata na firte pere ato ta mon kharap
hoyni ii) bangali jekhanei thakuk na kano, Durga pujo te hullor kora-ta taar mojjagoto aar iii) playback singer Abhijeet sudhu bhalo gaan-e gaay na, khub bhalo dhak-o bajay...

porashona sesh kore abar onno shohor... ebar dakhinatye. thikana Bangalore. bayos ta arektu bere gelo... concrete-er jangal-e bhora ei pora deshe shiuli phool fotey, kintu kothay taa amar jana nei. ashole ekhane toh aar cycle niye olite golite ghurey beranor sujog hoy naa. ekhon pujo-ta anek-ta onno rokom. ekhane pandel toirir kochi bansher gondho nei kintu TV-r bangla channelguloy pujor countdown achhe aar achhe pujor prostuti niye nanan rokomer program -- sesob guloi keeps us well informed "pujo aschhe"

ajkal nijer kota notun jama holo seta gonar theke, kaccher manushguloke koto beshi deoa gelo, taatey beshi moja hoy... taai kolkatay barir lokjoner jonyo kichhu na kichhu kiney pathate khub bhalo laagey... besh ekta boro hoe gechhi boro hoe gechhi habbhaab. aar echhara pujor dumash agey theke flipkart-e regularly chokh rakha-ta khub necessary -- kobe sharodiya sonkhagulo eshe jay -- haan, ekhono ami aar amar besh kichhu bondhura sharodiya anandamela-r jonyo wait kori... haatey peye gele hoyto Sunil Ganguly-ke criticize korteo chhari naa je ebarer Kakababu-r golpota thik jomlo naa ba goto dubochhor ager prochhod-ta ebarer tar theke anek better chhilo... bochhorer shurute calendar khuley sob theke prothome jeta dekhar seta holo Durga pujo-ta ebare ektao weekend-e porechhe kina -- tahole ektu chhutigulo allocate korte subidha hoy aar ki. tarpor kachher bondhu gulor sathe reeetimoto sincerely plan kora je kon bengali association-er pujo beshi bhalo ebong pujor kon din-ta amra kothay katabo, kobe kobe 6 Ballygunge Place ba Bhojohori Manna-y khabo aar kobe mondope bhog bitoroney haat lagabo. nijer jonyo kichhu kena hok ba na hok, ekta panjabi khub dorkar - se Ashtami-r anjalir jonyei hok ba Bijoya sammiloni-r onusthaney porte... kenakata, bhuribhoj, adda, abdar, prem, line diye anjali, atmiyo-porijonder duurobhashey pujor shubhechhe adan-prodan, facebook-e ekta pujor chhobir notun album upload kore bondhuder tag kora, ei sob niyei
kate ekhonkar pujo... aar, aschhe bochhor jokhon abar hobe i'll make sure je ami Kolkatay firboi ei ashay buk bandha...

anek kotha holo... anek pujor, anek chhobi -- anek smriti... chhoto theke boro hoe uthhte uthte amar durga pujo. anek din agey pora Robithakurer ekta kobitar koekta line khub mone porchhe...

"ashwinete pujor chhuti hobe
mela bosbe gajon tolar haatey
babar nouko koto duurer theke
lagbe eshe babugonjer ghatey
baba mone bhabbe soja suji
khoka temni khokai achhe bujhi
chhoto chhoto rongin jama juto
kiney ene bolbe amay "poro"
ami bolbo dada poruk eshe
ami ekhon tomar moto boro!"