Holy Family - As received

 

A Bengali millennial has come up with the following very imaginative and thoroughly entertaining interpretation of what Durga Pooja represents to Bengalis. A departure from the Amar Chitra Katha and Indrajal Comics, but absolutely fantastic.:

THE HOLY FAMILY

The period celebrated in most of our country as Navratras in October, 2021 has a special and intimate version in the East and is our primary festival, the Durga Puja. In this period Parvati, or Durga, consort of Shiva comes visiting her parents alongwith her children. This is a break for her from the harsh climes of Mount Kailash in Tibet and she is fussed over and feted by her fond parents in the mild and lush climate of Bengal. We have completely humanized the holy family and they too have qualities and quirks just like any of us.

Durga is the daughter of Himalaya but has been appropriated by the Bengalis as their own daughter and they celebrate her heroic role as the destroyer of demons as well as nurturing role as a mother figure but treating her intimately and fondly as a married daughter who has come back for a short break to her parents. Her children, the boys Karthik and Ganesha and the girls Lakshmi and Saraswati accompany her and have a good time with their doting grandparents.

The father Shiva is not invited as he lacks the social graces and his habits are those that all parents of girls would frown upon. He is the original hippy, the Rasta, the nonconformist rebel drop out. He may be the most powerful God, but he is no fit son-in law for the fond parents of the highly accomplished, divinely beautiful and very powerful daughter, Durga.

Durga, though dotes on him and even went without her royal fineries and luxurious life to become a Jogan and to live in the forests to woo him. Finally she married him without parental consent.

Shivji to me is a really cool God. Extremely casual, bindaas, devil may care attitude, dressed in skins and bare topped, matted locks Rasta style, hanging around with demons and monster, perpetually stoned, living in the wild, a perfect bohemian. In short, every father in law’s nightmare. The girls however, all have a huge crush on him and pray for a husband like Shiva. He was quite indifferent to their charms and prefer to spend time with his low life buddies and bros. Not for him, the society ladies and the Apsaras that the other Gods chased constantly, nor the court life at paradise, the high society and fancy apparel that the other Gods fancied.

A most down to earth God, he is happy with offerings that can be found in the wild for free like wild flowers and fruits which are not for human consumption like the Dhatura. He, unlike the other Gods gets his highs from the lowly ganja or marijuana and not the fancy liquors like Amrit or Somras. His only fault may be his excessive fondness for this narcotic.

But that does not stop him from being a very accomplished musician and dancer. In fact, perhaps this could be the real inspiration to his creativity. He has created some of the most famous ragas of our classical music, and some intricate classical dance forms. He also plays most musical instruments divinely and has invented a multi string guitar called the Rudra Veena. He has also invented a number of Yogik Asanas and is a master of Yoga, perhaps the secret behind his fitness despite the bohemian lifestyle.

He is very even tempered, and fair to all giving boons to any true worshipper irrespective of race or creed. Many demons become powerful with his blessings. But when he loses his temper, his rage can destroy the universe, as he showed when his dearest wife was hurt. Unlike the other Gods, he is known for his complete devotion to his spouse. He did not have a glad eye which his colleagues were notorious for.

Then again, look at his transport. While his wife, true to her status, rode a lion, he rides a bull. It’s as if the wife rides the jaguar and he sticks to the rugged jeep. His children too have been allotted a mouse, a peacock, a swan and an owl. Which means despite moms Jag, kids get scooties or altos, and a bike for the dashing Kartik.

The kids are a very accomplished lot too. Kartik, the handsome dashing bachelor, is not an idler despite being the son of the most powerful Gods, a hunk, and still single. He has received military training and proved himself to be an accomplished warrior and has risen to the post of chief of the Army at a young age. Ganesh is an intellectual as well as a super business brain. His fondness for food, especially his sweet tooth has led to his rotund shape but he is the chief troubleshooter of the universe.

The sisters are stunning beauties like their Mom but are both accomplished professionals. Saraswati is an eminent scholar, a brilliant musician and artist and holds the portfolio of education, art and culture for the universe. Her sister Lakshmi, is a financial wizard and holds the all-important finance portfolio. Gossip says that the sisters don’t get along. That is why culture and money does not go hand in hand. But these days the financial success of various artists seem to indicate a thaw in their relations.

Thus, we can see that despite having such a nonconformist dad and mom who is a frequently away battling demons, the family is well grounded and every kid has achieved eminence in life. They also bond well and despite having independent high pressure careers, find time to vacation together every year for these five days which are celebrated as a spectacular carnival in the Eastern parts of India and by Bengalis, the world over.