Mr and Mrs Sarkar

“Hurry up Madhobi. It’s getting late.” Mr. Sarkar was getting impatient. His wife Mrs. Madhobi Sarkar was taking a long time to get ready.

“yes yes. I am ready. Let’s go” Mrs. Sarkar came out of the room in a hurry.

“This year the pandal is the largest ever in the history of our city. It will be great” Mrs Sarkar could hardly contain her enthusiasm.

Mr. Sarkar was nodding in affirmation. “This year the organisers put in all their efforts to win the best pandal prize. They called special artists all the way from Bengal to decorate the pandal”.

“But largest pandal in the city also means the largest crowd” Mrs. Sarkar’s voice had a touch of worry in it.

“Don’t worry. We will be okay”.

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They reached the pandal. There were people everywhere. The idol was truly larger than life. Goddess durga was beaming at her devotees with kind and proud eyes. Mahisasur was in agony of having the spear pierced through his chest. Ma Durga’s children Ganesh, Kartik were also beaming in pride, probably over the fact that their mother is being worshipped in such a grand manner.

“How is the idol Madhobi?” Mr. Sarkar asked his wife.

“It is really big. They have really put their best efforts this year. Ma durga is dressed in a white sari with red border. The eyes are so beautiful. And the decoration is brilliant. They have put a big garland made of lotus flowers on the idol. ”. Mrs. Sarkar described the idol for her blind husband.

Mr. Sarkar folded his hands and bowed to the idol. “Let’s go now. If we start early we may go back early as well”.  Mrs. Sarkar held his elbow and guided him out of the mandap to the fair.

Mr. Sarkar took out his flute from his jhola and started playing melodious tunes. Mrs. Sarkar was holding Mr. Sarkar’s elbow to guide him through the crowd. She held a tin can in her right hand to collect alms from anyone willing to drop in anything.

They slowly moved through the happy puja crowd in this manner. This year the pandal was the largest ever. They hoped for a good collection. Ma Durga was still beaming down at her children from the grand stage.

Inspired from a picture taken by my good friend Mridul Kanti Roy Chowdhury