Mahasaptami

It is that time of the year again. The Goddess cometh upon our land to vanquish evil forces. Durga Puja begins.

But of course, more than its religious portent, it is an opportunity for the community to get together, work alongside to create an event larger than life itself, for migrant children to return home to their parents and thus yours truly is in Kolkata.

There are several conflicting accounts of how Durga Puja came into being. Some claim it was celebrated as a symbol of the early freedom movement in Bengal, while I read somewhere today that it was originally a post harvest celebration; to thank the Goddess for the bountiful food on their tables. All said and done, I do think this is the only time we can disclaim naysayers who say that the Bengali is incapable of hard work. Visit us now, you asur!