For the properly initiated, the festival of ‘Saraswati Pujo’ known as ‘Vasant Panchami’ is celebrated with Puja rituals & festivities to honor Ma Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge and Learning & in Kolkata, WB and most other places, cultural programs are organized including music, dance performances, poetry recitations. The participation comes more from young students who seek divine intervention for success in exams & good results !
For the uninitiated, it’s also called ‘Bengali Valentine’s Day’ in Kolkata and spring time cheer that permeates the city as young couples are seen elegantly dressed in traditional attire, walking together and enjoying the celebrations, adding a touch of romance to the festivities. This gives credence to popular image of the average Bong who had a song on his lips, wore heart on his sleeve & chain smoked, based on celluloid characters created.
Somehow the prototype stuck though there’s vast cultural difference between ‘Provasi’ Bongs like us (born & brought up outside Kolkata) and real true-blue ones from ‘City of Joy’. One recalls even in the school days, the only Bengali words our classmates knew were ‘Ami Tomai Bhalo Bhashi’(or I Love You). A knowledgeable friend once confided that most Bengalis were thinkers, smokers & lovers. Did he mean them being ‘Moony’ ?
Though it’s not that Bongs have the sole preserve of sensitive matters of heart and soul, that’s been eternally captured in their art, music, literature, there’s substance in imagery of the refined tastes of the literary, romantic, foodie ‘Bhadralok’ in who’s family, at least someone’s blessed with an enviable singing voice. There’s pride speaking the language well & the rich cultural heritage seen in every expression of it- music, literature, poems, movies, art, sculptures and the traditional Bengali sweets & cuisine, so mouth watering.
Quintessentially, apart from education, in enlightened Bengali households children are encouraged to develop a talent apart from what they chose as their professions. Not all become professional artists but many Bengalis are part-time singers, artists, musicians, poets, dancers, cooks, sculptors or follow other creative pursuits. Possibly, this cultural influence rubs off though millennial are breaking the mould in keeping with modernity.
Much has been said about the Bengali idiosyncrasies & eccentricities – curated grasp of different fish varieties, obsession with ‘boroline’ and ‘monkey-caps’ and speaking Hindi with disregard to genders as also their undying loyalty to the evergreen ‘Didi’ & ‘Dada’ of Bengal. There’s emotional connect with Kolkata filially, culturally & gastronomically.
Working on Living 