The Great Divide- Saraswati Puja and Valentine’s Day

It is a war…it really is, as the ‘lal-pere basanti saree’ takes head on with red roses, red teddies and red ‘everythings’ at this time of the year. Especially so in typical Bengali households. Yes, it the great Saraswati Pujo/Valentine’s Day divide.

Who can deny the charm of those stealing glances, coy smiles and impromptu proposals over Ma-er Anjali; who really cared for a luxury candle light when they got to share a plate of “Bhoger Khichudi’ with their newly found loves. Yes it is true, Saraswati Pujo saw cupid in full action, much before we came to know about Valentine’s Day. And for some it continues to be so.

But then times changed, and in came Valentine’s Day… which is now almost synonymous with overtly expensive red roses, long queues in front of eateries with V’Day special menus (read red heart shaped food), lovers scrolling online shopping portals to find the cutest red teddy, or may be some heart shaped chocolates. For some it is  a welcome change from the age old ways of finding and pursuing their love interest in a pujo pandal. Retail, apps and fancy eat outs made things easy and more social media friendly.

 
Cupid is now confused whether to nick the red or the basanti heart. But then it is his job, and love still blooms in pandals, over red roses, over schooler pujo and sometimes over teddies too!

(Devlina, in her own words, is “Just another Bengali woman proud of her Rabindrasangeet and Rosogolla roots ….. a psychiatry resident, still picking up the shells on the Freudian shore !”
For her other articles on Blong…Shong, Click Here)