Culture & Events> A new Kranti in Anondo Mela

Image: Colours and Scent by Devi

Image: Kranti's pamphlet

Image: As you like it by Maya

Photographs by: Tanya Munshi

Text By: Tanya Munshi

Every year, a day before the Durga Puja festival begins, most puja pandals host Anondo Mela, where Anondo means happiness and Mela means fair; so you can safely call it a 'Fun and Fair'.

This is one time where all the families bring goodies from home - Fish Chop, Ghugni (Bengali style Choley with kheema), Doi Bora, Pathishapta (sweet pancakes), homemade Sondesh and put up stalls to sell the fare. There are a few who come up with something more innovative like home made candles, cross stitched and embroidered handkerchiefs and the like.

Last year, in October 2010, I noticed that a single table had exhibits of beautiful paintings with vibrant colours and designs. I love to paint and I also like to pick up paintings from places where ever I visit on a holiday. So this table was no exception. I patiently waited for someone manning the table to appear while munching on some goodies.

There was no one at the table and so I made several rounds while relishing Doi Bora (Dahi Wada) and sharing some Ghoogni with my Dad. When I came back the third or the fourth time, I spotted a pamphlet which red Kranti in bold. Instantly, I picked up one and started reading. This has got to be the first time that someone had brought something new to Anondo Mela and I am glad.

This is what the brilliant pamphlet said:

What is Kranti?
Kranti is a women's rights NGO that seeks to educated and empower girls who have been trafficked, by providing them with a healing home, comprehensive education and leadership opportunities. We believe, that young women are an untapped source of collective strength who will become catalysts for social change and lead the movement for gender equality in India. Let the Revolution begin!

Revolutionary Art Work
Several Kranti girls are budding artists and you can support Kranti by purchasing their paintings and art work. Any income generated will go towards the artists saving and help Kranti become India's first financially sustainable NGO.

By that time, a young girl came up to the desk. I asked her how much did the paintings cost and I was taken by surprise when she said, "We haven't fixed any price on the paintings, whatever you feel like you pay. We just want to create an awareness about Kranti and these women." She gave me her visiting card which read - Trina Talukdar, Program Director.

That was refreshing to hear and Trina was absolutely down to earth and patiently explained what the NGO was all about. Instantly I picked up two paintings and asked her sheepishly if the amount was okay and she smiled, "Whatever you feel right, just pay, it's really okay". I couldn't help but pick up two vibrant paintings - Colours and Scent by Devi and As you Like it by Maya.

These paintings have something really refreshing about them and speak volumes of a tender heart that these girls are blessed with.

When I met Trina and spoke to her about Kranti and looked at the paintings, I decided to write about this and let my readers know. Truly, Trina with the help of Kranti have brought a new meaning to Anondo Mela. Anondo Mela is primarily meant to spread happiness and what better way to bring smiles across the faces of those who are bravely fighting the odds of life.

So, if you feel as strongly for a cause like this and would like to support Kranti, then do look them up at http://www.kranti-india.org/.

Durga Puja 2009, Mumbai

Image1: Durga Pujo at Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, Mumbai

Image2: Powai Durga Puja...

Image3: The sound of the dhaak

Image4: A 108 diyas lit during shondi pujo.

Image5: Garlanding the Goddess

Images by: Tanya Munshi

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Another puja come and gone and the festive fervor has left a wanting in me. The sound of the dhaak (the drums), the dhonu, the conch and the ululating during the aarti, it has the power to touch my soul and give me goose bumps. No matter what happens, where ever I am, I am drawn to the festivities of the Durga Puja. Missing it is sacrilege for me, not that I consider it anything ‘religious’, but its one of those few things that I relate to as a Bengali. This is my soul, my calling, my life and where I belong. Being a probashi Bengali (non-resident Bengali), this is my way of staying in touch with my roots, from where I come.

This is one of those rare festivals that I find that draws people from all faiths around the world and be a part of the colourful extravaganza. Each year I come home to be with my family to attend this festival and I find it so overwhelming when I find rich and poor, old and young, and people from all faiths visiting the pandal to at least see what we Bengalis go so crazy about.

You’ll see the ladies adorning themselves in the finest saris from dhakai to toshor and silk, the gold and the trinkets shine brightly with the shaka and pola – the distinctive red and white bangles that make married Bengali women stand out in the crowd. The men too are seen sporting the finest silk kurtas with dazzling gold buttons and the traditional dhotis.

People from all faiths who at least make it a point to visit the mandap, also queue up for the bhog, which is a vegetarian platter of khicdi or pulao, vegetables, payesh and tomator chatni. This is what is offered to the goddess first and served to the rest as bhog. Every year, I wait to taste this delicious bhog and eagerly fast during the day to have it.

Durga Puja brings with it a time for joy and celebration where kids who are studying or working away from their homes come down to be with their family for those 4-5 days. You can see the parents beaming with pride when their software engineer son has come down from the US to be with them. Or when parents bring in their newly married daughter and son in law to the mandap and happily flaunt their family. This is a time for grandparents to rejoice when their sons and daughters come home to celebrate the festivities with their little ones.

My attraction is also the various stalls put up by the various sponsorers, right from the delicious beguni, bhetki fish fries, chicken roll, to Moghlai porota. After a spicy snack, I make a beeline for the famous Mishti Doi. You can buy exclusive Bengal cotton saris from various stalls, jewellery, home décor and what not. It’s crazy to miss such an electrifying experience as Durga Puja offers.

I have seen Hema Malini perform some years ago, where she enthralled the audience with her dance of the goddess. Singers like Usha Uthup also made us tap our feet to her amazing songs. Troops from Kolkata come to the pandals in Mumbai and perform some of the most amazing dance ballet shows. There’s so much to look forward to during the puja and missing it means, missing out on life for a few days.

This is a once a year affair, where we get to pay respect to the goddess, wear new clothes, be a part of the festivities directly and indirectly and be together as a family. It fills our heart with joy and our tummies with the delicacies from Bengal.

Oh dear Goddess, do come back soon as we shall be waiting for you as eagerly as ever.

Places & Events> Triumph of Good over Evil

Image1: Eternal beauty

Image2: Bhog

Image 3: The entire family

Image4: Aarti

Image Copyright: Tanya Munshi
Text by: Tanya Munshi

Every year the month of October is the most sought after one for most Bengalis. It's a time to welcome home the daughter Durga along with her children - Saraswathy, Laxmi, Ganesh and Kartik to Earth, while the head of the family - Shiva looks over them as they make their journey to Earth and back.

New clothes, spending time with family and friends, relishing all the goodies and pandal hopping are just the tip of the ice-berg during this four day Durga Puja festival. Durga Puja is a festival where Durga comes home to bless everyone. The happiness and excitement experienced by everyone is similar to that, when a daughter comes home to visit her parents after marriage.

In today's context, Durga appears as a multi-tasking goddess who nurtures, protects and blesses her loved one. Maybe a gentle reminder that this is exactly what all mothers do for their children.

This festival has something infectious about it - it attracts and compells you to enjoy and be a part of the festivities even if you're not a Bengali. The word 'Sarbojanin' means exactly that - for all.