একলা হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে আছি
…. তোমার জন্যে গলির কোণে
ভাবি আমার মুখ দেখাব
মুখ ঢেকে যায় বিজ্ঞাপনে।

একটা দুটো সহজ কথা
…. বলব ভাবি চোখের আড়ে
জৌলুশে তা ঝলসে ওঠে
বিজ্ঞাপনে,রংবাহারে।

কে কাকে ঠিক কেমন দেখে
…. বুঝতে পারা শক্ত খুবই
হা রে আমার বাড়িয়ে বলা
হা রে আমার জন্ম ভূমি।

বিকিয়ে গেছে চোখের চাওয়া
…. তোমার সাথে ওতপ্রত
নিয়ন আলোয় পণ্য হলো
যা কিছু আজ ব্যাক্তিগত।

মুখের কথা একলা হয়ে
…. রইলো পড়ে গলির কোণে
ক্লান্ত আমার মুখোশ শুধু
ঝুলতে থাকে বিজ্ঞাপনে।

It all started with huge hoardings which were put up at key strategic locations in Kolkata with a huge ‘Ma Durga’ Idol face getting painted by an artist. It was a teaser, where it claimed that it is so big that one cannot believe.  Slowly days passed by, looming clouds started make their way out from Kolkata, giving space for bluish brighter skies and the teaser gets revealed –

It is the promo for Durga Puja at ‘Deshapriya Park’, one of the bigger Pujas of south Kolkata, sponsored by Star Cement.

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Soon the response came from Santosh Mitra Square, which is again one of the best Pujas of North Kolkata. The response was a wild counter attack where they used a much used colloquial term w hich essentially meant that- get to the business and the genuine/actual  Durga Puja is happening at Santosh Mitra Square.

The old heritage buildings are slowly getting covered with colourful large banners. Do not know, how much of it is contributed towards these old structures not being maintained properly for decades and how much of it is because of the growth of corporate and branding reaching its pinnacle during festivals.

What exactly triggers the onset of Durga Puja ? In my opinion these are the ones . What about you ? 

In a matter of another 10 days, when the invisible referee will blow the whistle, various activities leading to the Pujas will start. I tried to capture the various hoardings, which are being put up in Kolkata this year. I also wonder which one is an authentic Durga Puja – The biggies with pomp and grandeur with corporate sponsorship or the little shoe string budget Puja of my ‘para’ ( neighborhood); the place where I got my first practical lesson of Management – team work, optimization, fund sourcing, procurement  etc …

The poetry which I used in the beginning is an all time favourite of mine. Got this translation from the website of famous author /translator –

 

All alone I wait for you
In the lane I find my place

I think of giving you a glimpse
But advertisements hide my face

I think I’ll signal with my eyes
A simple truth or maybe two
They glitter in the gaudiness
Of advertisements coloured blue

It’s hard to tell how one man sees
The other one – with love or scorn?
But oh my exaggerations
But oh the land where I was born

Once my eyes were locked with yours
But now my glances have been sold
The neon creates commodities
Of private stories never told

All the things I meant to say
Are in that lane now, languishing
But my mask, so exhausted,
Dangles from the advertising”

If this is already making you feel nostalgic and if missing the Kolkata sweets then click on sweethandi . Its Kolkata sweets across India . 

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And Bumbada overlooks a hoarding