Saraswati Puja

It all started with a few extra pounds of mutton. Sounds odd as an introduction to a puja, but that’s what it was. The extra meat led to an invitation for dinner to a few people, who incidentally were on the same shuttle bus. Discussion spurted and led to what was more like an accident than a planned event. Saraswati puja has always been a special event for the students(due to different reasons, priorities are personal), but I didn’t have the slightest idea that it might be at my place itself before mid last week. It took the enthusiastic involvement of quite some people to finally materialize an incredible event. It was really unthinkable how smoothly everything was carried out considering the short planning period and the overwhelming turn out of around 60 people. Not too huge a number for a normal puja in Bengal, but for one like this, it definitely was.

The venue was at my place. It was an occasion, good enough, to finally clean our living room after a long time (may be the first time, I am not sure!) :D A few decorative plants, dupattas, some quick fine arts and it was hard to believe that the same place could look so nice. The most daunting (probably the most important too!) task, cooking for so many people, was shouldered by a number of people and they did a wonderful job. The menu included kichuri, alu bhaja, begun bhaja, alu-fulkopir tarkari, chatni and rasmalai. I feel sorry for those who missed it. While all was set in motion, there was still a key problem, the purohit, whose role was finally played quite ably by arnab(yes, bhalo arnab for those who know him). He was splendid in his work, as close as it can get to being a pro. With pushpanjali and prasad, it was a complete package of satisfaction. I hope we get more events like this.

(Thanks to Prajna, Saugata, Debashis, Ishita, Katha, Nilotpal, Swarnava, Kaustav, Sibendu, Tirtha, Rima, Amlan, Kohinoor, Shubhasish, Arnab, Nakul, Bhushan, Vinayak, Krushna, Joyeeta in no particular order. I thought twice before putting the names because there is always a chance that I miss someone. I am sorry if that is you.)

Ma! bhaloi bhaloi graduation-ta korie dao

etai shera samay!

The Group

Recent Past, Present & Future

It has been some time since this blog saw a new post. Well, before anything else, a very happy new year to all those who are reading these lines (not a whole lot, I am sure). The winter holidays were fantastic. I enjoyed a lot in the one-month-long break. I didn’t go anywhere outside Chciago as most of my friends did but still made the most of it being in the city. I had decided to switch advisor and I was to start working with the new group only in January. So partying, eating out, going around the city, watching movies, visiting friends in near-by universities - it was all fun. This was the first time that I went to a church on Christmas eve. It was primarily because of three Italian guys insisting on going there, and also I must admit I didn’t like all about the long rituals, nonetheless it was a novel experience in the church. The New Year Eve at navy pier was also pretty nice. The festive mood was too hard to ignore. You can see a short video from you-tube here.

Now that the new semester has started, it looks like I got the time to write about all these. Things are again quite messed up, in fact it is messed up more than ever before. The details are just too complicated. It will be both difficult and stupid to put everything on this blog. I just hope that I finally end up getting a PhD.