Tragedy at Durga Puja immersion in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal when flash flood sweeps away at least 8 persons

The tragedy occurred along the banks of River Mal in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. It is usual for devotees to gather at the venue of immersion to bid farewell to Goddess Durga and her retinue. They are Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Lord Ganesh, the children of Durga. Normally, such rituals rarely get prominence in the media but this was different. There was flash flood and the flow of water swept away some of the people and left a group of about 30-40 persons stranded in the middle of a river. The district administration rescued them and indicated that the deceased persons included an eight-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl while the other six included three women. In addition, fifteen injured people required hospitalization. 2 children among 8 drowned in flash floods during Durga Puja immersion at Jalpaiguri in Bengal. The District Magistrate mentioned that there was no local prediction of rainfall. However, suddenly the water in the river rose, probably due to rainfall in higher areas like Sikkim.

The district administration suspended immersion at the spot where flash floods occurred and undertook rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. His office took to the social media to send condolences to those who lost their loved ones. A local political leader said - “Thousands had gathered on the banks of the river and suddenly the water rose. People had no time to rush to higher ground. Many were swept away.” Even though there has been little rain in the area for the last few days, there were reports of heavy downpour in the higher reaches and in the Bhutan hills. Incidentally, the Mal River originates in the hills, and the water accumulated in the higher reaches owing to the heavy rain there caused the flash flood. This river merges with the Teesta River in the region.

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Goddess Durga and her kids wait for the annual bash (satire)

‘How are the preparations going on?’ Lord Shiva asked to nobody in particular. He seemed to be off mood because, once Durga leaves with her kids for her mother’s home, he would be left alone to fend for himself. It was an annual affair and he had got used to it – he would enjoy the freedom.
‘The number of pujas are increasing,’ Saraswati said. ‘Kids today do not pray any longer for my intervention - they have got addicted to coaching classes and are scoring nearly full marks.’
‘I know,’ Lakshmi joined in the conversion. ‘They have unearthed innumerable methods to make money and are deserting me.’
‘You are so very right,’ Ganesh intervened. ‘Earlier, only a section of people used to worship me in Bengal. But, today, the numbers have increased. They seek my blessings for their investments in chit funds. My image is taking a beating.’
Kartika had been a silent spectator till now.

‘And what is your opinion?’ Durga prodded him. ‘You are the one who is supposed to make the fashion statement.’
‘Fashion is not there anymore,’ Kartika sighed. ‘Actors go bare bodied, actresses wear the skimpiest of dresses. And – it is not due to fashion but due to convenience.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Have you seen them dance?’
‘Yes. Every movie has dance sequences. That is the tradition.’
‘Right. But – the nature of the dance has changed. Today it is all about throwing your hands and legs in all directions. And – to perform such antics, one cannot be tied down in too much dress. It is the requirement – like in sports. Those who run to win medals wear the scantiest of dress – just to ensure respectability.’
‘Where does that leave you?’ Durga asked.
‘Stranded,’ Kartika replied.
‘Actually, Bengalis are gradually losing their culture,’ Durga sighed. ‘They want everything on a platter. Gone are the days when the women would think up new recipes to win the hearts of her family members.’
‘They don’t have time to think about such trivialities,’ Shiva murmured from his corner.
‘You can’t blame the women,’ Durga protested. ‘They now chip in with their salaries to enjoy the goodies that life has to offer.’
‘I know,’ Shiva grinned. ‘I can see that from the huge crowds in the pandals – they do not have time to pray to you. They are busy taking selfies and wondering about the table booked in the restaurant to enjoy over long forgotten Bengali menus.’
Ganesh strolled up stroking his paunch.
‘I should now,’ he said. ‘The restaurants have master chefs who try hard to replicate the recipes of their mothers and grandmothers.’
‘And – the owners roll in money while the patrons roll in agony - at the size of the bill.’
‘One has to pay to enjoy the good things of life,’ Durga became philosophical. ‘Everything comes with a price tag.’(to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Goddess Saraswati is furious with toppers toppled (satire)

Goddess Saraswati was furious with the way education was being taken for a toss. She loved her students and, whenever they needed any help, she was always there to extend a helping hand. They only had to ask. But – people have converted the temples of education into money spinning ventures.
Lord Ganesh, her brother, had been observing her from a distance. Suddenly, he came up to her – in his hand he held a fountain pen and a bottle of ink. He placed them carefully beside Saraswati.

‘What is this you have brought?’ she asked.
‘Just some interesting items I picked up from the old book shelf,’ Ganesh replied. ‘I suddenly remembered the good old days when there were ink tablets. You dissolved them in water to get the ink which you filled up in the fountain pens.’
‘Yes,’ Sarsawati sighed. ‘And the pens were of two types. One in which the top could be screwed out to fill the ink. Once filled you screw back the top.’
‘The other was the press and fill type,’ Ganesh added. ‘It was less messy. Of course, you would get ink stains on your fingers and your shirt pocket.’
‘Yes. Those have gone out of fashion, the age of gel pens is in.’
‘Is that why the board toppers have toppled?’ Ganesh asked.
‘It’s a result of modern day education system’ Saraswati said. ‘Today it’s all about mugging.’
‘Mugging? That involves violence, doesn’t it?’
‘Not that mugging silly,’ Saraswati smiled. ‘This is mugging off by heart answers to all sorts of questions in every subject.’
‘But is that possible?’
‘Well – in some subjects, that could be possible. But – not in subjects where analysis is required like in mathematics. Still, students score full marks in so many subjects, including maths. Does it not sound fishy?’
Ganesh smiled.
‘Credit for that should go to coaching classes,’ he said. ‘Education is now a big business racket. I should know. Teachers join up and open coaching classes. They create links with people who matter, get the question papers in advance by paying money and sell them to the students to recover their investments. It is a flourishing business.’
‘And that is the reason of why toppers have toppled,’ Saraswati said. ‘It seems one TV channel interviewed the toppers and the cat came out of the bag. Just imagine – one topper did not know the difference between politics and cookery. When the TV host asked her a question on politics, she replied that she does not know cooking.’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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