32 days more...
I have a variety of fragrances at home to suit all seasons and all occasions. I get them from Kolkata and have a stock which lasts a year.
Fragrances have a deep meaning to me. I an relate them with my mother, my grandmoth...er, my grandfather, the house in Burdwan, my house in Kolkata. Strange, nah?
Light, floral Agarbattis remind ne of Ma in a crisp white, cotton sari, fresh after a bath. I have never seen Ma looking dishevelled or smelling bad. She would smell of roses, sometimes of jasmine, depending on the season and yes, her mood.
Dadima, my maternal grandmother was a very warm person who would envelop me in huge bear hugs and put light, feathery kisses on my forehead. It was always sandal with her.
Dadu was a Mahabhakt of Bajrangbali. The incense would be much stronger and masculine. Mogra, it was.
Dadubhai and Thamma were very pious. I would always think of the heady mix of the variety of incense sticks that they would light every eveningand yes, the Dhuna.
Dhuna always takes me back to Mangala di, a lady whom my paternal grandfather had given shelter and soon became an integral part of our family and my childhood. Winters in the burdwan house would be tightly shut windows, the evening arati and bhajans and Mangali Di waving the fumes emanating from the Dhuna as she moved from one room to room.
Away from Kolkata, away from the people I love the most and with some of my loved ones above, I try to recreate similar environment here.
I have jasmine to think of Ma, I have sandal for Dadima, I have Mogra for Dadu, I have Bharat Darshan for dadubhai.
The dhoona dhup is a must for those wintry evenings when its too cold outside while we are tucked indoors completing our homework.
Fragrances are a part of our life. For me they are a chunk of my childhood and I want to pass it on to my child so that someday when he is older and we are not around, he has memories to fall back upon.
Anyways, its Bharat Darshan, sandal and dhuno as the festive season sets in!
#pujocountdown
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