Unlike these days Sashti during our childhood was restrained, it meant folahar for lunch and luchi torkari for dinner followed by wearing the not-so-favourite new dress. Ma also wore her new chapa saree, the one she would later be wearing inside the house (ghare porar saree). On Sashti Ma kept a fast for my well-being and ate folahar. Today I keep the same fast for my son and miss her folahar the most. Folahar is a mixture of soaked saboo dana(sago) with milk, fresh fruits, dry fruits and mishti doi. No cooking only mixing the ingredients is required. I believe Ma mixed (or makha/makhto) it really well. Something of a mother’s touch made it extra delicious which I am unable to imitate.
Yesterday was Sashti I kept fast and went to Kallol Kali Bari at Bangur Nagar, Goregaon(W) to offer my prayers. Kallol is celebrating 50 years of celebrating Durga puja therefore they have made grand plans. The pandal decoration is reminiscent of a filmy set replicating Rajasthani designs. The adjacent Kali temple has also been well decorated. Film Director Anurag Basu and music director Pritam are closely associated with this puja. Bangla band Cactus performed in the evening to a packed audience.
In the evening we went Pandal hopping at D.N Nagar. The puja in D.N. Nagar is slightly subdued this year as their chief sponsor Sahara group is going through tumultuous times. This year they have used various masks to decorate the pandal.
Pragati near Andheri station is the oldest puja of this region. They retain their traditional charm with daker saaj protima and stalls selling traditional Bengali ingredients like muri, murki, khoi, motor daal, aamsatto, gamcha etc.
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