The autumn arrives in a subtle way.

The autumn arrives in a subtle way.

Come September... and after a spell of monsoon, when the tearful canopy of the clouds is withdrawn, the autumn arrives in a subtle way in Bengal. The sky becomes azure with the white clouds floating all around, festivities begin and the fields are full of golden grain of paddy that starts ripening and is harvested towards the end of the season. This is the time when Kaash and Siuli (flower) bloom to welcome Goddess Durga . Puja begins amidst much fanfare, fun & frolic and the holiday-note murmurs in the whisper of the Kash bushes. The immersion of the Idols takes place in the river on the Vijaya Dashami day, when also the demon, Ravana is put to flames to celebrate Dusserah.

Durga's daughter Lakshmi arrives again after a gap of 5 days to be worshiped on a full moon day - this time, all alone with her carrier, the famous owl.

Here are some of my poems and pictures on this subject.

Happy viewing.

Robin Banerjee.