Activity 8

Kavita : Hello, is it Ketki?

Ketki : Yes, Ketki. How are you? Did you receive my letter?

Kavita : Yes, I received it yesterday. I am very glad to read about Navratri. Here at West Bengal, we too have a festival like Navratri.

Ketki : How interesting! What is it called?

Kavita : It is Durgapuja.

Ketki : Sounds familiar. Do you also perform garba during Durgapuja?

Kavita : No, my dear. Durgapuja is like Navratri because it is also related with the Mother Goddess.

Ketki : O yes, Ma Durga. Well, I called you last night. But you were not at home. Were you busy?

Kavita : Yes, I was out with my parents. We bought new dresses, items for decoration and puja. We also purchased food items for the celebration.

Ketki : So, you wear new clothes on Durgapuja.

Kavita : Yes, we do. What else do you want to know on Durgapuja?

Ketki : What do you eat?

Kavita : We eat a variety of delicious food. And we enjoy food too. You know Bengal is famous for sweets. We eat rashogolla, sondesh, pitha, kalakand and many more sweets.

Ketki : Yes, Bengalis have sweet tooth.

Ketki : Do you decorate your houses with festoons?

Kavita : Yes, we do. Our puja pandals are decorative and huge. They are made of bamboo and cloth. They are temporary temples. We put a huge idol of Durga in the pandal. People stand in a long queue to see the Durga idol.

Ketki : Well, this sounds like Ganesh Mahotsav.

Kavita : You are quite right. India is one in many ways. 'Bibidhata me Ekta.'

Ketki : How lovely! And do you immerse the Durga idol like Ganesh idol?

Kavita : Yes, we do. During the immersion procession, we chant Durga Mai ki Jai and aashchee bochor abar hobe.

Ketki : That sounds amazing! What happens after immersion?

Kavita : It means it will happen again next year.