Like
all new moms, I too have lost track of how days become weeks, and weeks months.
When a festival is around the corner, my elder sister or my MIL act as
reminders, suggesting the bare minimum rituals I should follow.
This
morning, as sonny boy and I went to the park for our daily dose of Vitamin D, I
was delighted to see a burst of yellow. Women dressed in yellow, yellow flowers
shouting to be picked up at flowers, the familiar freshness in the air and Pandal
with Ma Saraswati idol in the colony school – I didn’t take a moment to realize
Basant Panchmi – Saraswati Puja is here!
While
my family doesn’t practice any ritual as such, apart from wearing yellow and
preparing sweet yellow pulav, Basant Panchmi occupies a very special place in
my heart. Having spent 12 years in a Bengali dominated school; the festival has
been a special occasion each year. After all, this was the only day in the year
when we could wear the dress of our choice to school instead of the boring
uniform! Unlike most kids who save the best dress for birthdays, girls in my
school dressed their best on Basant Panchmi. The three day long celebrations provided
us the much awaited break from classes, freedom to dress up as we liked, lot of
fun, amazing Bengali sweets and bhog, and much needed blessings from Ma Saraswati
before the final exams would haunt us!
A Day Before
A
day before the festival, all eyes would be trained towards the school gate as
we waited for Ma Saraswati idol to arrive. The moment we saw the tempo, we
would leave everything and rush to the foyer. The entire school echoed with “Bolo
bolo Saraswati Mai ki Jai” as we welcomed the goddess with flowers, songs
and impromptu dance!
The festival
For
us, this was the day of freedom, fun and festivities! Our usually over
protective parents gave us the luxury of giving the school bus a miss. Instead,
we girls took our sweet time to dress up our best and arrived at the school on
our own, in groups. The security situation wasn’t as sorry as present, so the
authorities let open the gates of the senior wings and one could enter and
leave school premises at our own wish. For teenagers of a girl’s school, this
was nothing short of living the college dream once a year! The senior girls
would seize the opportunity to flaunt the best sarees and imitation jewellery,
even as the eyes of senior teachers scrutinized the depth of their blouses!
Best part would be the Pushpanjali time, when each one of us would pray to Ma
for good marks and a bright career! Sounds of “Bolo bolo Saraswati Mai ki Jai”
would fill the ramparts as those who waited for their turn took to dancing and
singing! Wish we had mobile phones with cameras back then! The alumni also took
this occasion to take blessings from Ma and thank teachers for shaping up their
careers so well.
Morning
gave way to the noon in no time and the aroma from the makeshift kitchen in the
classroom signalled that the Bhog was ready. Our teachers displayed their
culinary skills as they pampered us with the most delicious Bhog – the traditional
Khichuri! After Bhog, we would dash to grab our boxes of Prasad which contained
an assortment of the best Bengali sweets one could think of!
Awwww! I miss my school!
As
we progressed to senior classes, the later part of the noon became hangout time
with friends at Connaught Place before we returned home.
Visarjan
This
was a moment that came heavy on our hearts as the thoughts of Ma parting left
us teary eyed. Moments after the tempo left the school premises, taking Ma
away, we would keep looking at the gate with gloom. Then the teachers would
lovingly ask us to return to our classes and be good students till Ma returned
next year.
More
than a decade after leaving school and more than a thousand kilometres away
from school now, I still feel the fragrance of flowers and incense sticks
afresh in my mind. As I recall those wonder years, I pray Ma Saraswati for
blessing my little one with knowledge and creativity the way she has been
generous to me.
To,
the Goddess, the mother, and the power – Bolo bolo Saraswati mai ki Jai !!!
Sharing
few pics of my visit to the Alma mater few years ago
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| My Alma Mater |
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| The Decor |
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| Ma Saraswati |
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| The lovely rangoli |
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| Flowers in full bloom |
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| Friends |
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| Friends |
