When a Housing Complex Becomes a Para- Subho Bijoya
I have always loved Durga Puja in Kolkata. In fact, I enjoy the days leading up to Puja almost as much as the festival itself. The monsoon begins to retreat, the weather gets a little more pleasant and somewhere along the way I spot my first kash phool . For me, that is when the countdown really begins. Kolkata begins preparing too. Pandals start taking shape. Shopping becomes increasingly frantic. Traffic becomes increasingly impossible. And yet, somehow, there is so much excitement around that even the chaos becomes easier to forgive. Over the years, I have gone pandal hopping at ridiculously early hours to beat the crowds, stayed out through the night when Puja had technically not even begun, and spent hours looking at the extraordinary creativity that appears across the city for just a few days. I have always been fascinated by the imagination, artistry and sheer effort that go into creating something so elaborate, knowing how temporary it will be. But as much as I enjoy the p...