For those of my readers not familiar with the phrase Durga Puja, please read “The Topsy Turvy Calendar”, an August 2008 post. In short, it is the worship of goddess Durga, a colossal occasion for the Bengalis as Christmas is to the Christians; and we celebrate it over a five day period with preparations ranging for weeks.
With Durga Puja at our doorsteps, dinner talk usually involves reminiscing about our childhood. The evening temperatures have started falling outside, and even a leaf or two. With steaming plates of rice, salad, baked fish and a curry, we sit at our cozy kitchen table, the children avidly listening to our stories.
Ø Bata shoes for her
It’s hard to describe the joy I felt when we stepped into the Bata shoe store before Durga Puja. And every year we would go through the same ritual. I would try on four to five pair of sandals, dad would look at my feet, make me walk in them, and finally choose a couple. As I grew older, the sandals started having higher heels. Maa took over from dad, and Bata gave way to other stores. Once I brought the shoes home I would keep the precious boxes for at least a week next to my bed. Everyday I would parade before the mirror, putting on a splash of gloss, and admiring my painted toe peeping through the sandals.
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Ø Bata shoe for himMy husband was brought up in a one parent household. Till middle school he used to get just two pairs of shoes for the whole year. And when the new shoes were brought home, the shiny box would somehow be hidden beneath the pillow. And there it stayed till the beginnings of the festival. Everyday, after returning from school he would give it an extra shine, and the day he walked out wearing the shoes ……. he knew for sure that all the pretty girls were looking at him.
With Durga Puja at our doorsteps, dinner talk usually involves reminiscing about our childhood. The evening temperatures have started falling outside, and even a leaf or two. With steaming plates of rice, salad, baked fish and a curry, we sit at our cozy kitchen table, the children avidly listening to our stories.
Ø Bata shoes for her
It’s hard to describe the joy I felt when we stepped into the Bata shoe store before Durga Puja. And every year we would go through the same ritual. I would try on four to five pair of sandals, dad would look at my feet, make me walk in them, and finally choose a couple. As I grew older, the sandals started having higher heels. Maa took over from dad, and Bata gave way to other stores. Once I brought the shoes home I would keep the precious boxes for at least a week next to my bed. Everyday I would parade before the mirror, putting on a splash of gloss, and admiring my painted toe peeping through the sandals.
.jpg)
Ø Bata shoe for himMy husband was brought up in a one parent household. Till middle school he used to get just two pairs of shoes for the whole year. And when the new shoes were brought home, the shiny box would somehow be hidden beneath the pillow. And there it stayed till the beginnings of the festival. Everyday, after returning from school he would give it an extra shine, and the day he walked out wearing the shoes ……. he knew for sure that all the pretty girls were looking at him.
Ø Clothes for herI would get five dresses for durga puja, one for each day of the festival. As the shopkeeper unrolled lengths of cloth before us, Maa would look at each material and comment on their merits. I used to run my fingers lovingly through each fabric and visualize myself in the dress. Then, the trip to the tailor, gazing through fashion magazines for the latest designs and finally waiting for the finished product. (I still love the scent of new clothes.) And once the dresses came home, the model would be parading before the mirror a few times each day. With a touch of gloss of course!
Ø Clothes for him
My mother-in-law stitched clothes for my husband till he was in the sixth grade. Once the shorts turned out to be somewhat like Speedos, clinging and about eight inches above the knee. The poor guy had to endure endless ribbings from his friends and a lot of giggles from the girls! But he had no choice; either sit it out at home or wear the skinnies and enjoy Durga Puja in the spirit of superman!
My mother-in-law stitched clothes for my husband till he was in the sixth grade. Once the shorts turned out to be somewhat like Speedos, clinging and about eight inches above the knee. The poor guy had to endure endless ribbings from his friends and a lot of giggles from the girls! But he had no choice; either sit it out at home or wear the skinnies and enjoy Durga Puja in the spirit of superman!
2 comments:
when i read your blog i feel i am going through my own experiences. waiting for more episodes.
Thanks Tanya, for reading my blog. I guess most of us have the same basic experiences. There are so many memories....
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