Autumn was almost at its end, and the month of October was slowly fading away. At the same time, the joyful rhythm of the approaching Durga Puja could already be felt everywhere. In the open fields, white kash flowers were blooming gently, swaying with the autumn breeze. The fragrance of the season filled the air. Looking up at the sky, one could see soft clouds floating like pieces of cotton. From nearby trees, the delicate shiuli flowers were falling drop by drop, creating a quiet but magical sound on the ground.
All these signs were slowly announcing the arrival of Bengal's biggest and most beloved festival — Durga Puja, the grand celebration of the Bengali people. It is not just a festival; it is an emotion, a celebration of life itself.
There is a popular saying in Bengal: "Baro mashe tero parbon" — meaning that Bengalis celebrate thirteen festivals in twelve months. Among all these celebrations, Durga Puja holds a very special place. It is the festival that brings happiness, excitement, and unity among people.
Life often becomes monotonous when people work continuously day after day. Festivals like Durga Puja break that monotony. They bring joy, laughter, and warmth among friends, family members, and neighbors. People forget their worries and come together to celebrate. That is why Durga Puja is often called the festival of hearts and the festival of togetherness.
Just like every year, our village also prepares to celebrate Durga Puja with great enthusiasm and excitement. The entire village participates in the preparations. Decorations are made, lights are arranged, and everyone contributes in some way. This year too, we were eagerly waiting to experience the same joy and excitement.
Before continuing with the main story, it is important to understand a little about the rituals and days associated with Durga Puja.
Mahalaya
Mahalaya marks the end of Pitri Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha. It is believed that on this sacred day, Goddess Durga begins her journey toward Earth.
Early in the morning on Mahalaya, people wake up before sunrise to listen to the famous radio broadcast "Mahishasura Mardini," narrated by the legendary voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. His powerful chanting and narration create a spiritual atmosphere that fills every Bengali household with devotion and excitement.
In our village too, everyone wakes up early in the morning to listen to the broadcast or watch the Mahalaya program on television. It feels like the official beginning of the Puja season.
The Days of Durga Puja
Durga Puja is celebrated over several days, each having its own significance and rituals.
Shashthi (Sixth Day):
This is the first official day of Durga Puja. On this day, the ritual of Bodhon (awakening of the goddess) is performed. The goddess is formally invited to the mandap, and the rituals of invocation and installation begin.
Saptami (Seventh Day):
On this day, the daily worship of the goddess starts. The priest performs sacred rituals, and devotees gather to offer prayers.
Ashtami (Eighth Day):
This is considered one of the most important days of Durga Puja. The grand Maha Ashtami is celebrated, and the sacred Sandhi Puja is performed between Ashtami and Navami. Devotees gather in large numbers to offer pushpanjali (flower offerings) to the goddess.
Navami (Ninth Day):
On this day, the worship of the goddess continues with special rituals and prayers. The atmosphere remains festive and devotional.
Dashami (Tenth Day):
This is the final day of Durga Puja, known as Bijoya Dashami. On this day, the idol of Goddess Durga is taken in a grand procession and immersed in the river or water body. It symbolizes the goddess returning to her heavenly abode after blessing her devotees.
Apart from these main rituals, several other traditions are also followed during Durga Puja. These include Kumari Puja, Pushpanjali, Hom (fire rituals), and sometimes traditional offerings.
Now, Let Us Return to the Main Story
Every year, Durga Puja in our village is celebrated with great excitement and grandeur. The responsibility of organizing the festival is taken by Nandanik Club, a local youth club known for its creativity and enthusiasm.
Most of us were young members of this club, actively participating in the arrangements and celebrations. Among all the members, the youngest member was Megha.
On the morning of Shashthi, everyone gathered at the club at the scheduled time. The air was filled with excitement as preparations were in full swing. Some members were going to bring the idol of the goddess, while others were assigned different responsibilities.
While everyone else was busy with their tasks, Sanjib was assigned a rather special duty — to spend time helping Megha with her work.
Megha looked at Sanjib and asked casually,
"Hey Sanjib! How is your father doing these days?"
Sanjib replied softly,
"By God's grace, he is doing very well."
"That's good to hear," Megha said with a smile.
"So tell me, are you going with the others to bring the idol, or do you have some other work to do?"
Sanjib looked at her quietly and replied,
"Whatever you want."
Megha raised her eyebrows and laughed lightly.
"Oh really? In that case, you can work with me. Come on, help me wash the utensils for the Puja."
Sanjib nodded without hesitation.
"Alright, let's go."
But Megha wasn't finished yet. She added playfully,
"And don't forget — we still have to make more flower garlands!"
She giggled mischievously.
Sanjib didn't mind at all. In fact, he was happy. After all, Megha was the person he loved deeply. For her happiness, he was ready to do anything.
In this way, the joyful day of Shashthi passed by.
Saptami
The next morning, the rituals of Saptami began with the daily worship of the goddess. Devotees gathered at the mandap wearing colorful clothes, each adding beauty to the festive atmosphere.
Interestingly, on that day Sanjib and Megha arrived wearing clothes of the same color. It almost looked like they had planned it beforehand.
Megha called out to her friend,
"Hey Rita! Can you pass me those lotus flowers? We need them for the Puja."
Before Rita could respond, Sanjib quickly stepped in front of her.
"Rita, give those flowers to me. I'll give them to Megha."
Rita smiled teasingly.
"Alright, alright! You two are really something."
She handed the flowers to Sanjib.
Sanjib walked toward Megha and stood beside her.
In a slightly unfamiliar tone, he asked politely,
"May I help you?"
Megha turned around and saw him standing there. She smiled warmly.
"You brought them? But I asked Rita to bring them."
Sanjib replied casually,
"Rita was busy with another task, so I brought them instead."
Megha nodded.
"Okay. Thank you, Sanjib."
And just like that, the day of Saptami passed happily.
Ashtami
On the sacred morning of Ashtami, Sanjib and Megha stood side by side during the Pushpanjali ceremony. Together they offered flowers and bowed before Goddess Durga.
After the prayer, Megha asked curiously,
"So Sanjib, what did you pray for?"
Sanjib replied honestly,
"Nothing special. I only prayed that my father recovers completely and that someday I may be united with the person I truly love."
Then he asked,
"What about you, Megha?"
Megha smiled brightly and extended her hand.
"Handshake, bro! I prayed for the exact same thing. Isn't that surprising?"
Sanjib smiled quietly.
After a moment he asked,
"Are you going anywhere today?"
Megha shook her head.
"No, not today. But I have an idea. Tomorrow morning we should all go pandal-hopping and visit different Durga Puja mandaps. What do you all say?"
I immediately jumped in excitement and said,
"Yes! We agree!"
Sanjib nodded.
"Alright then, tomorrow it is."
Pandal Hopping Adventure
The next morning we started our journey around 7 AM.
What we didn't realize was how long the day would become.
By the time we returned home, it was already 9 PM.
Honestly speaking, Sanjib and Megha had taken us to so many Puja pandals that our legs could barely support us anymore. We visited places like Contai, Digha, Egra, and many other areas. The journey seemed endless but incredibly enjoyable.
Navami passed in a similar joyful manner, filled with laughter, food, music, and celebrations.
Dashami
On Dashami, the day of immersion, everyone gathered for the final rituals. Colors were thrown in celebration, and people hugged each other wishing "Shubho Bijoya."
It was a day filled with mixed emotions — happiness, nostalgia, and a little sadness as the goddess prepared to depart.
Yet, for Sanjib, this Durga Puja had been the most memorable one of his life.
For the first time, he had experienced Puja with Megha in such a special way — visiting pandals together, eating delicious food, sharing ice cream, and even riding the giant Ferris wheel.
Everything felt like a beautiful dream.
The Night
Finally, when the long festive days ended and night fell, Sanjib lay down in his bed.
But instead of sleeping immediately, he eagerly waited for sleep to come.
Because he knew that in his dreams, he might once again see the girl who sat beside him in Room No. 14 — the classroom where everything had begun.
The place where friendship slowly turned into something deeper.
The place where a true love story had quietly started
"A Journey from Books to Hearts"