F - Coincidence

February 01, 2004


A windy day, cold wind blowing in through the open window,
and here I am sitting at my desk to write this journal.


A late entry in my journal about 26 January, but this day is
so special this year ? a blend of two sweet notes, Saraswati Puja and
Republic Day ? what a coincidence! Spring season, the best time of the
year and this is the time we celebrate Vasant Panchami (Saraswati
Puja). It is the almanac that reads the date of this
puja


Saraswati Puja, a festive occasion, the air is filled with
saraswati vandana (Hymn in praise of goddess Saraswati). At the puja
places, at home and at the community puja place, the repetition of the
mantras by the devotees for Pushpanjali (offering flowers to the
goddess) along with the continuous chanting of the mantras by the
priest. On completion of the religious rituals, the Prasad (offerings
of fruits and sweets) is distributed.


It takes days to make the arrangements ? The clay idols, the
hard work of the artistic hands are complete after the clay model gets
its final touch of the colours. Flowers, fruits, sweets and all the
necessary items supplied to the priest tallying with his list, along
with hours put in to decorate the place of the puja.


In my childhood, we brothers and sisters stole hours to make
colourful paper chains, specially designed paper flowers and other
decorative paper items. Tissue papers of different colours ? bright
red, green, blue, yellow, pink and purple, worked in combination to
complete our efforts. I still remember, we stole the Janata kerosene
stove to the far end of the verandah, lighted the wicks, I suppose
there were ten wicks that burnt at a time to give a steady bright
flame. In a discarded medium size aluminum bowl, mixed a handful of
atta (flour), with water to make a paste, the density such that it
would flow if poured out of the vessel. Taking the help of the tongs,
placing the aluminum bowl on the burning stove and stirred the stuff
with a stick till the water dried up to make the paste. This was the
gum we used to stick the tissue papers. For making the colourful chain
that hung in the room from one end to the other, we cut thin strips of
different colour papers, about two inches broad and eight inches long.
After joining the two ends with this handmade gum formed the first ring
of the chain. Soon one after the other was added to continue with the
chain, making it as long as twenty to thirty feet. Small hands worked
in unison to complete the work. Flowers were designed, cut and pasted
by my Didi (big sister), she was proficient in this
art.


We borrowed saris of bright colour with zari borders from Ma
for decorating the puja place, the zaris shining under the light of the
colourful bulbs and that made all the difference in the ambiance of the
room.


Saraswati is the goddess of wisdom, on this day school and
college going boys and girls pray with sincerity to the goddess to give
them the strength of mind to work hard and be successful.



Now the gusto of young days has dwindled with time, find
happiness in seeing our children get pleasure from observing this
special festive day. Generations will carry forward the culture of this
country.


In our country, 26 January has a special meaning; this day is
celebrated as our Republic Day. In 1950, India adopted its new
constitution and became a republic. The Tricolour, our National Fag ? a
combination of saffron, white and green, the Ashoka Chakra in the
centre ? is hoisted and at the sound of tune of the National Anthem ?
Jana Gana Mana ? raises the patriotic feeling in the mind. Now as I sit
back I get the reflections of those bygone schooldays, the gusto with
which I was a participant for the special occasion.


Till today the sound of the republic day parade is fresh in
my mind. My school, St Joseph's Girls High School, won the trophy every
year for the republic day parade as the best contingent among the
girls. Girls in their navy blue tunic and white blouse, white ribbons
for the plait, blue belt, light blue sash crossing from its attachment
from the left shoulder through the belt to the right. White sports
shoes, white socks and the school badge on the right chest. I had been
in the lucky lot to have won the prize for my school many times. Smart
girls, bubbling in their teens, looking like fresh flowers, marched
smartly down the way meeting the beats of the drum and the commander's
voice saying, 'left right left right', and in front of the chief guest
the flag bearer bending the school flag to the right at right angles to
her grip and moving forward and the rest of the contingent turning
their eyes right to look into the eyes of the chief guest taking the
salute. We put in long hours of practice to win the trophy.



As I said earlier, it was the blend of two notes, one
religious and another patriotic, which made this day so special this
year. The day created an intoxicating atmosphere and I was glad to get
drunk in the prevailing mood. The ring tones will ring again for these
special celebrations after one year, the Republic Day will be there on
the same day but the almanac will read the day of Vasant Panchmi.
Vasant means spring, this is a festival of the spring season and I look
forward to celebrate it in this time of the year when nature shows off
its beauty on this earth in abundance.