The little Bengal had descended on this small Kali Bari teeming with the 'bhalo bhadralok' and pretty girls, a Manna De song on Calcutta's coffee house was turning everybody nostalgic. And I was just focused on food--almost an hour after Iftaar (It's Ramzan yaar).
So my Bengali friend, a bachelor away from his hometown, and I were roaming in the Kali Bari. The menu for just one outing (Saturday) could be an indication for you:
1 Started with veg snacks 'Bhejitabal..' (as written in Hindi on the stall just like Bengalis pronounce)
2. Fruit Chat
3. Chana Jor Garam
4. Fried Fish Fingers
5. Chicken Tikka (Halaal-shop, a Muslim's, I had ensured)
---------Smoking/ Cigarette Break---------
6. Biryani (though in a small 'dona')
7. Chicken Roll
8. Lots of Gol Gappas (Paani Poori)
9. Cold Drink
The menu changed everyday but remained this long.
For Bengalis, it's an important part of the year. No matter if the person is religious or not, a Hindu or of any other faith, as long as he is a Bengali, this part of the year his cultural roots call him out to the Kali Baris in their towns.
Many of my friends are Bengalis and so I share their enthusiasm during the Durga Puja. Away from families they turn nostalgic. I can't read Anand Bazar Patrika or understand Bangla but can surely give them company. This year I too I ensured that everyday I visited the place for at least an hour in the evening with my friend though it is tough because my working hours (6 pm-11 pm) don't permit that easily.
He took care of the pretty girls. I, being a married person, am not that interested (or I pretend!). And of course all my attention was towards food. For three days I kept eating like a glutton and my stomach braved this gastronomic assault.
All sorts of cultural programmes like drama, songs, Ramlila and other cultural events were part of this Durga Puja celeberation. Already having best of snacks and non-veg dishes at home due to Ramzan (Ramadan), the khaana-peena an extension of iftaar at Kali Bari made this another unforgettable experience.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Among the Bengalis:
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6 comments:
hmm... i did not ever like crowds, but its a gud thing that u do. be with ppl on Durga pooja.. i understand that going to see the different pandals is quite an event.. why was i never born curious??
MaiN bhi ko'ii boh't social nahiiN huuN. Often feel like withdrawing from the world and sometimes feel like going to markets, fairs, fetes as a passer-by.
Nice to see non-Bengalis are also visiting to Durga Pujo. Basically, if you visit Kolkata, you'll see it's hardly a pujo, rather it's a festival. As the days are passing, the rituals are getting reduced and the enjoyment is taking individual routes - it's a great gathering also.
How is all the money collected for erecting Pandals? It must be a huge affair... require quite a lot of finance.
Kudos to the organizing spirit of the folks.
Diganta bhai...yaar its my culture...as much a part of mine (my childhood and youth) and memories as Muslim festivals. We are so lucky to have so many great festivals and such culture.
:) I wish I could catch the spirit in Kolkata someday.
Indian bhai, it's really nice, you haven't been in such places?
During the greater part of last week, Slate's sister site On Faith (it is jointly produced by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, both owned by the Washington Post Co., which also owns Slate) gave itself over to a discussion about the religion of Islam. As usual in such cases, the search for "moderate" versions of this faith was under way before the true argument had even begun. If I were a Muslim myself, I think that this search would be the most "offensive" part of the business. Why must I prove that my deepest belief is compatible with moderation? Read more: Why are we so scared of offending Muslims? - By Christopher Hitchens
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