Nostalgia

America is a relatively young culture, and hence traditions are fewer than others such as Europe, India, or Asia … but Thanksgiving is one of the finest traditions in North America. Families and friends get together over abundant food and warmth, to ring in the holiday season. There is no gift giving like Christmas or Valentine’s Day (Alas! Merchants), no card-sending (Alas! Hallmark) … it is just a day of closeness.

It is not a holiday that I grew up with, and Turkey, by and large, is a tasteless meat! However, after 16 years in America, I have come to appreciate the holiday, and respect its significance in this young culture’s tradition firmament.

My traditions were Durga Pujo (worship of the goddess Durga), Lakhsmi Pujo (worship of the goddess of wealth), Kali Pujo (worship of the goddess Kali, and the festival of lights and fire-crackers), Saraswati Pujo (worship of the goddess of learning and the Arts), Dol (festival of colors), Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year), Bhai Phnota (Brother’s Day) … many other pujo’s and parbans. In our family homestead at 34/1 Elgin Road, many of these were also occasions for fun, food, and warmth … the whole family of 25-50, multiple generations, multiple branches of the family tree – would gather …

Caught in the quarterly cycle of our business, I miss most of those.

Tonight, however, a tinge of nostalgia compels me to write a few lines.

An ode, that’s all.

No regrets!