Oh, Maa! Why you chose the last week ...

ONLY IF Mother had a working husband in Lord Shiva, she would have known what it means to entertain a guest in the last week of a month. Thus feel Her devotees who are in a festive mood, but with empty pockets.

ONLY IF Mother had a working husband in Lord Shiva, she would have known what it means to entertain a guest in the last week of a month.

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Thus feel Her devotees who are in a festive mood, but with empty pockets.

“O Mother! Always come home in the first week of the Puja when we have our pockets full to give You a lavish welcome,” pray devotees.

“Last week is indeed is a cause of concern which several people are already discussing overtime, getting ready for the Puja. Those who have been preparing for the festival since April are a happier lot. There is a lesson to learn as well,” Says Joy Chatterji, who works with a private company.

“The salary that people got in the month beginning has been exhausted. And being in Hindi cow belt, there is no provision of getting advance salary in government and private sector companies during the Puja. This is definitely a piquant situation for most of the Bengali families here in the State Capital,” says Indrajit Mitra, a government servant.

Housewives managing the family budget are at a loss, as they don’t know how to go ahead with the limited resources. “We’re facing quite a problem now.

Already the substantial part of my husband’s salary has been exhausted in meeting other expenses. Now I’ve very little amount left with me. I would use this money in getting some garments for my kids only,” says Archana, a housewife.

The early arrival of Durga puja has also dampened the festive spirit to quite an extent as various Puja committees are confronting problem of poor collection.

The collection is short by 10 to 20 pc, as the committee members didn’t have enough time to generate the funds. Normally ,Durga Puja falls somewhere between the first or second week of October. But this year it is in September itself.

“As cost has gone up, we’re facing some financial discomfort. Collection of fund is short by 15 pc. So some adjustment has to be made somewhere. If the need be we may have to curtail some of the cultural programmes. We’re exploring other avenues as well to make up for losses,” says AK Mukherji of Sanskritik Puja Committee, Shivaji Park, Indira Nagar.

Bengali Club office-bearers also feel the same way. “Undoubtedly, the collection has not been very satisfactory. It has been short by 10 to 15 pc, which is a phenomenal amount. This has certainly dampened our spirit. But we would not curtail on the festive part as Durga puja is the most celebrated festival of Bengalis,” says Arun Banerji, the general secretary.

Last, but not least is that in most of the English medium schools the half yearly examinations are taking place. The examinations are on till Saptami and in some schools till Maha Ashtami.