Abar Eseche Pujo

"Aashchhe Bochhor aabar Hobe
Bochhor Bochhor Aabar Hobe"
The sounds on the banks of the river Cauvery brought out the Bong in me, as we bade farewell to Saraswati Maa last year. It made me realize why I was so proud to be a member of the Bong family, and that it was a part of me. As we were on the bus back to college, singing "Barandaye, Roddur", fleeting memories of the first year came rushing back.

Bunking class as we had to go to Gandhi Market to purchase the chaal, aalu, tamatom, and other ingredients for the chaatney and torkari, we wondered what the point of the exerise was. 48 hours and two night-outs later, on a similar bus journey back was my first being-a-Bong moment. That night in D-mess, rolling golas for the roshogullas, making sure that the correct proportion of rice, daal and "ghaam" went into making it the most perfect khichhidi ever; the "jai saraswati mai ki", and loading of the seemingly 2-tonne "haandi" on to the truck; making the venue for the pujo ready and as 'bhor' struck, hurrying back to wear "paanjaabi-payjama", and going to attend the aarti is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any Bong! After that, the unique opportunity of feeding the never ending queue, stuffing 10 roshogollas in the mouth at the same time.....

I was brought out of my reverie and back to reality when the final years passed the baton to the next batch. All that could be heard was
"Aashchhe Bochhor Aabar Hobe
Bochhor Bochhor Aabar Hobe".....

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Saraswati mahabhage bidye kamalolochone
Bishwarupe bishalakshi vidyang dehi namahstute!

Saraswatwai namahnityang bhadrakalwai namah namaha
Ved Vedanaga Vedanta Vidyasthanebhya ebacha!

Jaya jaya devi characharosare
Kuchojugo shobhita muktahare
Beena Pustaka ranjita haste
Bhagavati bharati devi namahstute!

sa me basatu jiwahayang beenapustakadharini
murariballave devi sarbashukla saraswati!
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