Sarodotsav... the key to happiness!!!!

have you ever heard about Utopian happiness? That leaving all the pains, problems, tensions people are just enjoying uninterrupted happiness.... yes I feel. Every year. The four days of Sarodotsav, that means in the time of Durga Puja.  The happiness comes like a wave and just disappear within a short time. You must say that there are 4 days you have to feel it, but I feel that these 4 days usually pass out like a dream come in night incredible. The whole nature takes the preparation of happiness, to serve happiness to the children of nature. The nature's Queen Autumn this time dresses like the new bride

 with the ornaments of Golden Sunlight. She wears the crown of blue sky with white clouds in them. She makes her hair with the ornaments of Kaash, the milky white flower. perfumes herself with the fragrance of Shefali and the Lotus in her hand makes her Glorious in attire and Grand in look.
       With this charming makeover nature and her children waits and welcomes the superior heavenly Mother... Goddess Durga in the earth, every year. Durga puja or the worship of Goddess Durga is very important and essential for the emotions of Bengali people as well as their economy. This is the only festival when the Bengali traders makes their 90% profit. This is the economical aspect of the festival. But the emotional aspect is more essential for them.

       Bengali people thinks that Goddess Durga who is also known as Uma is their own daughter. She comes to her father's home after one year with her four children Ganapati, Kartikeya, Laxmi and Saraswati from Kailash. She stays from Maha Panchami to Mahanavami. that means 4 days and then at Bijaya Dashami she returns back to her Husband's home. Once upon a time the Bengali girls got married in very early age and they had to stay long at their Husbands' house and they got the permission to go to their Fathers' home just for these four days of Durga Puja. That time the girls got the best welcome and treatment at their father's home as they came after a year. Like that in Hindu mythology Goddess Durga who's another name is Uma was the Younger daughter of Giriraj (King of Mountains) Himalaya's two beloved Daughters.... Ganga (The river Ganga) and Uma. She got married with the God of the Gods Shiva. But Shiva is a saint and he will never be able to give her the luxurious life and comfort in which the Princess Uma born and brought up. So her mother Queen Menaka became upset and every year when she comes in her Father's Home with her children, mother Menaka gives her the best thing that she loved at her maidenhood.

          The both events real and mythological are very similar no? The Bengali girls of ancient days and Princess Uma.... Both of their position is same. That's why some where the Heavenly Goddess of myth and the simple Bengali girl's position merges, mingles and converge  in a same way. A Girl is somebody's darling Daughter, somebody's beloved wife and somebody's loving mother. The Goddess and a simple girl of this earthen world stays in the same platform this time. So the emotional value of this festival is too much for Bengalies as their Daughter is coming.
    This four days Bengalies worship Goddess Durga with
many rituals, sacrifices and with the pure love for her. The priests spells Sanskrit hymns to welcome her, to worship her and enlighten  the sacred fire which is known as "Yangnya". The priests offers her the foods, drinks, ornaments, clothes, flowers and other things essential for her through the hymns. And then the "Aarati" they do to please her with the Ballad made with Sanskrit hymns which is the description of her magnificent heavenly beauty, glory and power;  and asks her blessings for everyone's health, victory, prosperity and happiness saying " Roopang dehi, Jayang dehi, Yasho dehi, Dwisho jahi ".
        These four days the people use to float in the weave of happiness and joy. And then the last day that means Bijaya Dashami comes. The priests spell the hymns with heavy heart. Every body says that this day Goddess Durga also shed tears, as she is returning to her Husband's house.  The Bengali women prepare her with a lovely and heart touching ritual named "Baran".
      When a mother sends her daughter in her husband's home, she use to wipe her tears, prepare her with many ornaments, essence and many other things that flourish her beauty. The Bengali Women also shows their love wiping her face with "Paan", then wipe her tearful eyes with their own cloth's "Aanchal" put turmeric and mustard oil on her cheeks, Sindur in the parting of her hair, gives sweetmeats in her mouth, gives "Paan" as the mouth freshner in her hand and in tearful eyes says  "I will wait for you daughter. Please come after a year with my grand children." The eternal Mother Daughter relation gets it's zenith this time when the heavenly goddess becomes an unwilling daughter who is weeping and the very simple lady of earth becomes her loving Mother. This ritual comes from ancient days. And after that the Bengali people pleases her with the dance taking the smoke vessel "Dhunuchi" in hand after that they took the idol towards a river or pond with a beautiful procession and float the idol as they are sending her towards her home.
            The four days are so much important for the community. As this is the time to live their lives once again. Forgetting all the pains of the years, leaving the tension behind. The community lives a life of Utopian happiness among the earth itself.
         So at last biding everyone Goodbye for today and wishing Subho Bijoya I finish this post for today. May Goddess Durga shower happiness, blessings and prosperity over you and your family.