BHOPAL: After 10 days of enjoying the benign presence of Mother Goddess in their homes and several Pujo pandals, Bhopalis finally bid a tearful adieu to Maa on Friday. The Kali baris were again the hub of a lot of colourful rituals, with Sindoor Khela being the most favoured one on Bijoya (Dussehra) day.
“Nine days of Navratri passed in a jiffy, although for us the main festivities began from the sixth day. So, when it was time for Maa to symbolically leave her mayka (parental home), we all felt the pain that one feels when a daughter of the family leaves to go to her husband’s home. But, before we allowed the tears to well in our eyes, we played a sindoor Holi with Maa. It is basically a symbol of happiness and marital bliss for all. Due to Covid fear, we used sanitiser and played Sindoor Khela only with our kin or closest friends and not with everyone, somethinb we did before Covid happened,” said Kesha Mitra, a homemaker.
At several pujo pandals, including TT Nagar Kali Bari, public Sindoor Khela was not allowed, but that gave revellers another opportunity to play vermilion Holi with the Goddess. “When you are bidding farewell to Maa, you cherish each and every special moment that you can get with Her. I also smeared sindoor on Maa’s divine forehead and seeked Her blessings. The fact is that I’m already looking forward to her comeback next year and hopefully without Covid fear looming large on our heads,” said Sharmishtha Das, an educationist.
There were others who enjoyed this part of the celebration for the first time and captured those moments forever, not only in their smartphones, but also in their hearts. A newly married girl, Ankita Gupta Ghosh, was on top of the world as she said, “This was my first sindoor khela as I have just got married to Shirish - a Bengali. This particular part of pujo was really awe-inspiring for me. After the khela, we all looked like human Goddesses, who have to carry on Her mission of empowerment on this earth.”
