The Vacation in Meghalaya

I feel disgruntled. The dusshera vacation is over and I am now to pack my bags and head back to Pune. Huh.. good days are spent so fast or is it really a practical experience of Einstein’s theory of relativity – that modifies the clock with respect to places. Whatever be it, at the same time, I possess a mixed feeling, blended with contentment. The fortnight vacation in my hometown – Tura, the wonderful hilly town in Meghalya, was an amazing trip that fullfilled the promises of a beautiful stay. First and foremost, the Durga Puja festive could never have been any more wonderful than spending it here, a town know for its mixed population. But this being a town in the North East, Durga Puja is always a celebration time of the year. The city is beautifully decorated with lights and there are majestically decorated mandaps all over the town. Since the Puja is celebrated by all local groups and is not only limited to Bengalis, hence this adds more charm for the entire population here. The Bengalis, Marwaris, Hajong, and the Nepalis – all tribes celebrate the Durga Puja with all the more charm and zeal here and this is the major reason why this place holds a special attention for the Puja celebrations. Entire crowd would come out of home and visit the mandaps to offer the prayers to Maa Durga and seek her devine blessings. It’s a mandate that people must visit most number of mandaps and must come out of the house on both the days – Ashtami and Navami. Most of the ladies would be performing the Navratra Puja at home and this woud mean a holy engagement for the full 9 days. Childrens have all reasons to cheer since the school remains closed for about a week and they would be utmost busy with their fun games with pistols and laser beams.
The main Charmer however is the way ‘Bisarjan’ is carried out on Dushami. This holds a special and emotional connect with the devotees as they carry out a grand procession of Maa Durga and entire city jumps into the streets bidding goodbye to her. Chanting holy praises of Maa Durga: “Durga Maai ki Jai’ and “when she is coming next?: Next Year” the entire crowd would dance to the fullest strength and greet each other. This is a time when – elder or younger, male or female everyone out there is engaged in celebration mood. There is drum beats everywhere and people would dance to the choir of those beats. Meanwhile there are others who have come out with drinking waters for the crowd – the homemakes have gathered into the streets with tea and biscuits for the devotees who would be tired with their dancing antics and holy slogans.
All these affairs were witnessed by me and I had all the more reasons to be proud of these people, the stuff and the city. The much awaited vacation gave to me all that what it promised and hence I am all praises for it even though all good things come to an end, this one did come early. My face gleamed with happiness and contenment since I had visited my hometown after 1 long year. Also given the fact, this is my first visit after my wedding, this visit holds a special place in my heart and mind. The good thing was that my wife enjoyed the stay too and she was actually bit apprehensive initially at the thought of coming to a mediocre town in North-east. But I had calmed her feelings and assured her that the North East was as peaceful and serene as any other place in India.
All in all I end this blog once again in a happy note and also this is the end of my wonderful trip here which I will miss for sure for atleast one year after which I am supposed to come back again for a fresh vacation. But this is a long time and I can only wait for it for the moment. After all coming home is the only desire in the heart, when one is immensely occupied with the hectic office shedule. Long live these vacations.