Celebrating durga Puje

Time has come round again for my favourite festival-durga puja and I am waiting to revel in the festival’s specialities such as the decorations, sumptuous food, rangolis and the rich finery. For me this occasion has special connotation,It’s the time when I get back to my roots and get in touch dormant spiritual side. It’s a time when I follow every tradition connected to this festival. Besides that, it also the time when I get in touch with my entire family.
Durga Puja symbolises the triumph of good over evil. The festival is celebrated for a week, and each day has a mythological significance. Astami or the eight day is the most important day of the entire occasion.. It’s a family time as puja’s are performed.
I remember the days of lavish preparation before the arrival of the deity. A week before the pujas,I helped my mother with the household chores. Garlands of marigold and mango leaves were sewn together,the rice had to be ground for alpanas (rangoli), a variety of mithais to be prepared before the relatives started arriving. other family members start arriving. I remember collecting fresh flowers from the neighbours garden every morning and cleaning the brass thalis to be used for the day’s rituals.
After the days rituals, it is usually time when the entire family sits down for bhog. Bhog is usually made of rice and a mixture of lentils, accompanied labra (a dish of mixed vegetable), papad and dollops of ghee served on banana leaf. And not to forget the rich kheer made with jaggery,ground rice and dates and the delicious rosogollas, mohan bhogs and lal mohans which were simply divine!
In the evening, the entire family usually gather and visit the local puja pandals. It is usually the time when we get to meet and socialise with our friends,relatives and friends. Nearly everyone makes it to the pandal once a day to pray and eat together. The puja pandals are usually choc-a bloc with women resplendent in traditional benarsi sarees with heavy gold embrodiery and matching jewellery,while the men are usually seen in embroidered kurtis and dhotis.
And not to forget the tantalising food stalls set up in every pandal where you get to taste different regional cuisines. Check the different food offered in the stalls, which seems to be the main draw of the pandals. It's quite a sight to see people attacking the food with gusto.
Another aspect I like,during this time it is a revival of culture and tradition. The pandals usually encourages artistic exprerssions through home decorations,stage plays,elocution competitions,cooking competitions thereby discovering talent in younger people.