With the passing of Dashami and immersion of Goddess Durga sadness descended on the hearts of every devotee.  Five days of festivities just vanished in a jiffy. After tired limbs are given some rest we Bondhus decided to organize Bijoya Sammilani – a get together in which we Bongs go for blast with friends where we eat, dance and make merry.

Once the venue was decided and we got down to the intricacies of organizing the Bijoya Sammilani. As we were discussing the modalities S.K. Mukherjee chipped in saying: “I will sponsor sweets … Bijoya’s mishtimukh would be from my side.”

This was a bold beginning. We found a sponsor at the onset and this ga ve a spring to our initiative.

“This being our first Bijoya we should invite members of other Durga Puja Committees too in our programme,” opined Gobindo Da and we all Bondhus agreed.

After consultation the Bondhu Mahal decided to organize Bijoya on October 24. B.M. Da and Acharya Da went for scouting of cook – lo and behold – we found a caterer among ourselves. Rai Da said he would take care of catering job. Menu was prepared that invariably was a mix of veg and non-veg.

A guest list was prepared. Invitation letters were printed and we got down distributing invites among the guests. When everything was going as planned, we got stuck – what’s about cultural programme?. No one gave a thought about it.

We had home-bred talent. Krishna Boudi (wife of S.K. Mukherjee) volunteered to sing Robindro Sangeet. Master Siddhant R Sen – son of D.B. Sen a budding talent offered to showcase his talent, and then there was Gopal Da and his troupe that agreed to perform.

The D-day came. The hall was full to its capacity. Everyone was waiting for the cultural programme to begin when one of our guests Mrs Neera Sinha, President, Durga Puja Committee, Kauta jheel, volunteered to start the musical evening with Ganesh Vandana. What a rendition it was, and what a beginning.

Singer after singer presented soulful songs. The atmosphere was so musical that Chatterjee Da (P.S.) offered to sing Manna Dey’s song and he sang “O meri johra jaabi…”.

He won the hearts of the people and the hall reverberated with the shouts of “once more”. And he came up with another song “… laaga chunri mein daag”.

What a song and what a presentation!.

At the stroke of 10 the dinner was served and every one gorged on paneer, sabzi, cholar dal, raita, chutney and for non-vegies hot and sipping Chicken was served. Rasogulla was served as desert.

What a evening it was where the border line between guests and hosts was obliterated. We all worked as a team –as one group and as Bondhus.

Glimpses

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