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My Most Fascinating Experience

by Fayza Haq
BEING well acquainted with mosques. where both men and women prey together, such as in the Maldive Islands (whether it be Male or an Island adjacent to Gan) played In my childhood at tiie steps of a cathedral; and seeing Hindu puja festivals only during a brief glance in The Jewel In the Crown" in the recent past, my great desire had been to witness a Hindu Puja in its actuality
I got this opportunity four years back, when I saw the Durga Puja in Mlrzapur Tangall arranged by the Kumudlni Welfare Trust I was then tired and harassed trying to combine two professions at a time, while keeping an eye on my home front at Dhanmondi as well I had barely survived correcting copies for a page of broad sheet, bad scribbled down some essential notes on what I felt was a run-of-the-mill art exhibition My hair was askew my clothes were crumpled
and my moccasin heels worn out. when an Individual, who was merely an acquaintance . stopped by. and asked me if I wanted to see the Durga Puja. This was a manna In my graph of existence at that juncture in life.
Who’ could blame me, an impulsive person, who leaps to a non-pareil unknown panacea, when given the opportunity? When I arrived at Mlrzapur. 1 was weary and perplexed, hoping to stop and enjoy the various Durga Pujas. that I could see all along, from Dhanmondi to Ghazlpur The images of the goddesk Durga and the various other good and evil elements that had been personified painted and dec orated so well with fairy-lights, attracted me Being fatigued both physically and mentaly. I wishe.d to heavens that I could have cajoled my escort to halt and enjoy mysel! to my heart's content to any one of them
However, my gallant at hand had been invited to the puja. arranged by the Kumudlni Welfare Trust , and I gave in to him, not asserting my basic belief that both genders are equal, given equal opportuni ties and requisite atmosphere
I was eventually delighted at my thaperone s decision to witness the puja at the place where he had been Invited .that Is. at Mlrzapur. I had some Idea that the well-known philanthropist.the late R.P Shaha. had schools, colleges, hostels, hospitals, and beautl fully decorated double-decker boats . that had once lined Narayanganj. as my mother had told mF some facts about him in my twenties. What actually goes on at the Durga Puja. the most important festival for Hindus, was something, I then felt, that I should not miss. This was becuse, having ar rived al the puja scene, my chaperone and I( both with
different rellgit^s and separate nationalities) were treated like some VIPs. Our jeep was parked at an alotted place . we were guided and helped to elongated boat. There were many expatriates in the careful and splendid arrangemant for the spectators. There were sofa chairs, and other comfortable seats, bright lights and delightful environment of a river . trees and shrubs. The spec tators appeared to be looking on both speechlessly and breathlessly. There were hushed interchanges of whispers. but flashing and clicking of cameras were all the dominating sounds and sights coming from the onlooking viewers
Meanwhile, on the stage were presented a series of exotic. wel-rehearsed dances by teen-aged girls, with acccom-panylng music Comparing theirs with some of the adult performances that I have had the opportunity to witness on BTV. so far. left the latter In the shades The murchhana and niudra of the movements of the faces, limbs, waistline and bosom were in unquea tionable exactitude, which was surely an admirable feat for girls and teenagers who had been performing
The dances with the oil lamps, which brought back memories of Alladin s magic lamplof my secure and con tented childhood) the foot steps which were In perfect cohesion with the music, with numerous taais. were incredible. I felL The dancers, as I knew already, were students of the school there, and their dancing had been only a pas time and not surely an essen tlal part of their curriculum The performance lasted for hours, as variations of dance displays were presented There were no breaks or hesitations, no flaw in the timing bet wen one dance and another One witnessed the mantras and another As one believes that God holds up the earth for people of all religions and na tionalities there mustn't be
bars of any type, whether they be based on religion, race, colour or any other prejudices. One found the exquisite prayer to the goddess Kali, in the form of dances and mantras. as an experience one never had before (even though one had. somewhat travelled extensively. and India having been only a stop-over of certain flights that I have occasions to experience).
After the unique cultural-cum-rellgious rltiuals. I crossed over the ghat and the riverside (with, df course, the gallant male escort) and I could have gone home fully contented and at peace but more surprises and delights awaited us.
We had an opportunity to examine the libraries and there too. we were treated al most as VIPs. The individuals there were gentle, elegant, suave and intelligent who were teachers at Kumudlni Welfare Trust school. They insisted that we should have a meal; and what followed was a feast that I had not the occa sion to actually witness in my life Beautifully decorated porcelain, dazzling forks and spoons, laid out on the table that almost bordered the entire massive hall, were natu rally welcoming. The repeated helpings of delectable meals, with the dessert, in the form of sweetmeats overwhelmed ua altogether The adjoining toilets were as clean and this was where we refreshed our selves further.
In the "finale" of my experience of the puja. we were even asked to spend the night at the Kumudlni Trust guest rooms. My escort asked me." Would you?" I replied. I have not my nighty' or toohpaste
I had not any other essentials that a woman JouranJiM often caries both at home and over seas Besides. I knew my mother would not rest until I was safely home, by some not normally accepted Bangladeshi hour for a lady's time to come back home each day
It Is no wonder that this Durga Puja experience has left an tndellbel mark on my mind