Those Lovely Prayers

The Ashtami evening draws onto the lit up streets endless queues of pandal hoppers, as they stroll their way into the puja premises. It is as if a giant hand had scooped the stars from their constellations and have let it slip through the fingers across the heart of Kolkata, alighting every corner of the city in a fascinating glow of celebrations. I step off the road following the collective ringing of conch shells to enter a locality pandal and occupying...

The Balloon Seller

It was the Navami night. The much awaited Pujo was coming to its end and every face that I saw leaving the pandal that night, had a sadness sowed into its skin. The city that was all erupting with the energy of its people, was unusually quiet that night. The lanes, somewhat sparse. Music reduced to a mellow. It was also this year that Ashtami and Navami was happening on the same day. A day less of celebration. A day early into the struggles of life....