It's Durga Puja time again and two of my must-do rituals during the festival involve food. First, on Maha Ashtami it is a must for me to partake in the communal prayer/divine offering or anjali. Dressed in the my new kurta, I enjoy the spiritual tranquility that one experiences when chanting the mantras in unison with others. But it is my post-anjali tradition that is a bit peculiar. I always make sure to walk over to a particular food stall and have fish orley. That's my thing. For me, my Ashtami anjali ritual isn't complete without having the fish orley afterwards.
Then, I have to visit the Kashmere Gate Durga Puja -- one of the oldest Durga Pujas in Delhi -- to have the mutton biryani that they serve on the three days of the Puja. Again, this is something I have done for years. And for me Durga Puja isn't complete without it. Why is it like this? Well, Durga Puja is a festival that brings people together, celebrates life and connects us with a higher spiritual power. It isn't an austere festival. After all, we are celebrating the homecoming of our Goddess. It is both an occasion of joy and thanksgiving. And food is definitely a part of the festival.
Therefore, there are various levels at which one connects with Durga Puja. One can connect through family and friends, celebrating the Puja together. One can connect through food. Or one can connect through the divine grace of the Goddess. In that sense, Durga Puja has to be one of the most open religious festivals in the country. Everyone is welcome. And everyone can connect with the festival in his or her own way. Which goes to show that spirituality can have different paths. We all need to find our own way. At the end of the day, connecting with the divine is key. Be it through meditation or a post-anjali fish orley.
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