I Celebrated Durga Puja In Kolkata After 10 Years But Did Not Step Out Even Once

As October 22 was inching closer, it would have been a nice feeling. Durga Puja was here and I was celebrating in Kolkata after 10 long years. But here I should explain a couple of things. Firstly, I have lived in Delhi since 2011 and have not visited my hometown for Durga Puja since relocating. So my last experience was in 2010. Secondly, I said it would have been a nice feeling because the circumstances were anything but normal. The COVID pandemic was raging and that was why I happened to be home in the first place. Our offices were closed since March and I was working from Kolkata since June.

Now while I have no craze for the religious side of Durga Puja, basically because I am not a big fan of idol worship (I do admire them as works of art though), I do not mind spending some quality time with friends and family. And since I happened to be home at this auspicious time, I decided to do just that, with the necessary precautions.

This is the first Durga Puja where I never stepped out even once. Even in Delhi, I did go out once in a while. Here's how things went.

BCCL

Day 1 was a low-key affair as I had office or work from home as one would say and went about like I would on a normal day. Not the most auspicious start I must say.

On Day 2, I completed my work during the day. Usually, Fridays are my weekly offs but I had requested a weekend holiday and a colleague graciously agreed to swap. Once work was done, two of my oldest friends who live walking distance from my house came over, with proper precautions of course. We drank and chilled and relived the good old days. At around 11 pm, my mom and I went to the flat above us as my cousin and his wife were visiting, a plan they had made even before COVID happened. So along with them and my uncle and aunt, the whole family had a nice dinner. A day well spent.

PTI

Day 3 saw me slightly under the weather due to a cold. I spent most of it in bed but my friends did come in the afternoon, yes the same ones, to watch the KKR vs DC IPL 2020 match. KKR won and we were happy. We chatted a little, I did not drink much and later in evening after they left the whole family had dinner together again.

Day 4 was a slow day with not much was happening and I kept to myself. Did the same on Day 5 as I honestly was in no mood to go anywhere. Be it laziness or the urge for self-preservation, I never stepped out. And with that, it came to an end.

ANI

It was not my best Puja experience but not the worst either. It was the best of a bad situation and possibly my last Puja here for some time to come. However, I was able to prove to myself and to others that one can have a good time without putting oneself at risk. Or others for that matter.