Recalling the opening lines of the Daphne Du Maurier classic ‘Rebecca’ (‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again’), we’d also say with an air of disillusionment : ‘Last evening we visited ‘Lalbagh Park’ again after many years – it revived waves of nostalgia.
For those from Lucknow’s 1960-80’s era,memories would be associated with the most cosmopolitan and colourful Puja festivities in the sprawling ‘Lalbagh’ Park (not to be confused with the Lalbaug of Mumbai !) that later, got converted to a big parking lot opposite the Lucknow Nagar Nigam ! After a break, the Park did again become a venue for the Durga Puja celebrations in the bustling Lalbagh area. But for us who’d been regulars to Lalbagh Pujasyearsago, the vintage ethos &joie de vivre is nowmissing!
One recalls that from childhood days, our brigade of about a dozen sisters, brothers, cousins and family friends would converge at Lalbagh Park for ‘grand masti’ of the innocent kind. Boys will be boys and some of my Non-Bengali friends would join us for what was then euphemistically called ‘bird-watching’! Aiming at those eligible in the ‘shaadi’ market, Lalbagh was a happy hunting ground for many anxious Bengali mothers where ‘bhalo’ matches could be unearthed and for the bold and smart young ones, it was opportune moments to start new alliances or to restore old connections.
Lalbagh Park was stone’s throw from our house & being close-by, every evening we’d stroll down to Lalbagh Park in our new Puja outfits (those days it was possible to walk on the roads) and spend the evening gaping in awe at the ‘dhunuchi’naach with a pot with burning embers by the great ‘Sikdar’ brothers (who’d put Salman to shame with their 6-pack abs), enjoy the festive bon-homie& look for treats from rich friends in the chat, chop and cutlet stalls and swing to the latest Bengali film songs of that era !
So as Tandra and I, both retired senior citizens now, strolled across to Lalbagh Park yesterday, it was like a throwback to the amazing times of our youth& those years of pure merriment. You feel that the best things in life are the people you loved to be with & remember after they left, the wonderful places you went & the memories you made.
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