Durga Puja – A Festival of the Heart, Even from Afar
Durga Puja is not just the greatest festival of the Bengali community; it captivates hearts across India and even around the world. There’s something magical about the sound of Ma Durga’s arrival echoing through the skies, binding every Bengali heart with an invisible thread of joy during those five festive days. It’s a celebration that transcends class and background—a time when joy becomes the key to many livelihoods.
But when these five days of happiness must be spent away from family and loved ones, the feeling shifts into something entirely different. For most, Puja means togetherness, laughter, and shared moments at home. For me, however, those days unfold 2000 kilometers away from my hometown, inside a high-rise corporate office, with only my laptop for company.
Is the joy of Puja lost then? Not entirely. It still exists—but now it’s confined within the glowing screens of WhatsApp and social media. As friends post selfies in front of the idols and share their pandal-hopping stories, all I can do is watch from afar. Sometimes, I find myself yearning to hear the rhythmic beat of the dhak, to breathe in the heady scent of incense, and to feel that familiar festive air around me. I miss the simple joy of buying new clothes for my parents and sister before thinking of myself. I miss serving bhog at the local pandal, offering anjali on Ashtami morning, and staying up all night with friends, soaking in the spirit of the festival.
Office leave rejections and the rising cost of flights have turned those dreams into distant memories. In the pursuit of my aspirations, I’ve had to leave my city behind. But I haven’t given up hope. One day, I will return—to my city, to your city, to our beloved Kolkata. I truly believe it—one day, I will be back.
