It was dark and cold in a November morning. Yes, too cold for a 6 year old kid because his mother didn’t allow him to go out without a “bi-layer” of warm clothes. It was my all time favorite, the morning of Chhath puja, a grand festival back at my home-state.
We young, better say ‘little guns’ of India were out there, chilling, wondering how grown ups manage themselves in normal clothes even in these conditions. Everything required for worship of Lord Sun was arranged on ‘thelas’ to carry them to Ganga-ghat. But, who is going to guard these, and who will enjoy pushing thelas when it would get stuck in sand. “We will, we will, please, let us….” We cried, unaware of the fact that actually our senior folks want us to do so, as a result, we were now on thelas, proud to be there.
Now, hitting the roads not so empty, as it used to be at this time. We passed colourful bulbs, ‘disco-lights’, pandals, and then reached Ganga-ghat, the bank of holy river Ganga, one of my favourite place right from my childhood.
Still discussing how our ‘driver’ managed to escape where others got stuck in sand, and whispering “Oh no, we didn’t enjoy what others are, lucky people!!” A little later every other person of family was there as in some grand family reunion. Then, everyone was waiting for sunrise, which gave us some time to enjoy on sand and as usual I got away a little far. With lots of queries in my mind, when will they start, will all of these people here do the same things to make Sun happy?
I decided to find it on my own, the notorious nonconformist developing within me was on his way to find its answers. So what if we enjoy here on Ganga ghats, what makes people to have enough faith to come out of their cozy beds to flatter Lord Sun , why don’t they do it any other day? Do we really have to do these things to enjoy this cold morning at Ganga, why cant I come here everyday?
As usual, lost in my own thought, not realizing where I am, I was wandering alone along the Ganga ghat, watching people worshipping Lord Sun. Never realized I was actually lost!!
As it usually happens with other kids, they get lost, cry out loud and then announced on P.A. system to take them. I still admire my own courage to actually make a decision to not to cry, even when I realized, I was not able to find my folks. In spite of that I kept on moving here and there, not following any ‘set of rules’ which my mom told me, go to police uncle, or people in tent, ask them to announce your name if you are lost, and yes, following one, Don’t cry.
Soon as the tradition is, my pockets were filled with ‘thekuas’ and bananas used in Puja, with every family giving those to kids and people they know. So, finally, I’m done here, no more sight seeing, let get back to home as soon as possible, as there will be “He-man” coming on TV. I kept on moving easily as nothing happened, but soon I realized something has happened, my name was all over the P.A. system, then suddenly my people appeared, my dear mom, panicked and about to cry. They were amazed what made me so courageous, with my hands in pocket and walk alone for so long. I made all of them laugh (didn’t realize why, that time) “Mom, why do you keep saying, Don’t cry when lost, if you have to cry like this”.
With a happy-ending my “long” journey was over. Of course I’m not a theist, but simply in love with charm and magic of Chhath Puja forever.
In spite of being too young, I still remember that morning and enjoy it in solitude, perhaps, because it was my first time out to see others all alone, and do something on my own. Breaking and challenging rules, rituals have become my habit since then.
I remember that morning, when I’m low, and ask myself, if I can have such courage as a kid why can’t I do it now.
And if I get a chance to travel back in time, I’ll always choose this moment to enjoy and live that morning again……..
