Purbasha_Agamoni_2020_Flipbook

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PURBASHA Atlanta, GA Presents Sharodiya Patrika “Agamoni” Editorial Team Monideepa Mukherjee & Gourab Majumdar Web & Publishing Team Ashish Choudhury & Supratim Mukherjee Published online this year due to Covid-19 Pandemic situations. All the articles published in this e-magazine are the ideas and expressions of the author themselves and the editing team or the organization is not responsible for any matter whatsoever PO Box # 2904, Alpharetta, GA 30023-2904 www.purbasha.org 2

CONTENTS  Editorial Note  President’s Note  Pujo Writeup – Mahalaya by - Sudipta Dasgupta  2020 – A year to be remembered by - Akash Chatterjee  Painting by – Raunak Das  Painting by – Prapti Ghosh  Painting by – Sashvata Paul  Painting by – Debaditya Bose  Whats in your kitchen by Ritu chanda  Painting by - Mahua Paul  Painting by - Soumi Dutta  Painting by - Manisha Chatterjee  Painting by - Jaya Majumdar  Painting by - Arunava Roy  Painting by - Nilendra Chanda  Interludes of Life by - Saikat Chatterjee  The Mahalaya Chronology by - Arunava Roy  Purbasha Durga Puja Sit & Draw Contest by – Purbasha Kids  Thanks to Sponsors/Patrons 3

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Editorial Note Author: Monideepa Mukherjee and Gourab Majumdar 2020 – The year that was meant to be the 10th anniversary year of Purbasha, but instead this year shall be etched in public memory and in the annals of the history because of the novel coronavirus. Life has taken an unprecedented turn and it has been almost accepted that it may never revert to the life we knew before the pandemic. Millions of people have died and millions more have been infected. The virus does not differentiate between rich and poor, between the most powerful man of the world and an ordinary citizen. It can infect anyone, no one is safe! It has crippled the world economy, shut down several countries, impacted humanity in never-before-seen ways. Although Purbasha has been trying to cope up with the changing times, there are some dreams that shall remain unfulfilled this year. The mega annual festival of Durga Puja is among the grand celebration that we were looking forward to but keeping the priority of health and safety for all there has been changes to the plan. Abandoning the familiar crowded venue and because of the suggested restrictions towards the participation due to the pandemic, the executive committee has decided to take our durga puja to the people through live streaming and social media. We are concerned that with the crowded venues many may get infected with the deadly virus and hence the decision to show our puja virtually. Not only the puja, prayers can also be offered virtually. The cultural committee shall be streaming a program. The events committee also organized durga puja themed events through social media. Our efforts this year may not compensate for the actual celebration of Durga Puja that also of us want to have, yet a heartfelt prayer and a joyful participation can make the difference. May the goddess of strength give us the power to endure such a difficult time for mankind. May we emerge from this stronger, together. Here’s hoping to the next year- আসছে বের নিশ্চই হছব! 5

President’s Note Author : Biplab Biswas We are a group of individuals with hopes, dreams and aspirations…all unique in our own way, yet united by commonality, defined by commitment, with collective conscience to achieve common cause. Our commonality manifests itself in the organization known as PURBASHA, dedicated to serving and supporting the Bengalis in Atlanta; providing excellent cultural values to its members; promoting good relations among each other. We clearly enjoy each other’s company and the services, programs, and activities that give substance to our organizational purpose. This year marks a big milestone in Purbasha’s story, as we celebrate 10 years of supporting our community at all levels. First of all, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to you all, for your continuing support. For this 10th anniversary as a President I had the privilege to lead the organization. We started this year with a lot of plans and special programs to make this anniversary a memorable one but because of COVID-19 pandemic we had to cut short our programs. Considering the pandemic situation and regulations around public gatherings and safety protocol we have decided to organize “Ghat Puja” to maintain continuity of the rituals of Durga Puja. We will be streaming the event live including the opportunity to offer Puspanjali from the comfort and safety of your home. Just like every year we will be publishing our Sarodiya Magazine “Agamani” in digital format. During this Covid-19 situation our cultural team introduced innovative ideas to organize various cultural events(virtual & real time) throughout the year. Our Purbasha care team worked closely with Bharat Sevashram to organize a fundraising campaign to provide food, relief supplies, and health services to support and care to the people who got affected by the disastrous storm, Amphan. Purbasha also collaborated with NABC (North American Bengali Conference) committee to conduct a global concert with Bollywood and Tollywood artists for Amphan and covid-19 victims of West Bengal. Thanks to our EC team; their hard work made all these possible. I personally thank my EC members for taking the initiative, beating the odds and taking PURBASHA to new heights of success. I wish Purbasha’s success story continues in future! Thank you. Stay safe and healthy. 6

মহালয়া Author : সুদীপ্তা দাসগুপ্ত “এবার আমার উমা এছল আর উমায় পাঠাছবা িা, বছল বলছব ললাছে মন্দ োছরা েথা শুিছবা িা”… দরু ্াপগ ছু ার ঠঠে েছয়ে নদি আছর্, প্রনি বেছরর মছিা এই বেরও এছস লর্ছেি বাউলোেু । র্াছয় লর্রুয়া আলখাল্লা, মাথায় ঢাউস পার্নি, োছঁা ে রংচটা োপছির ল ালা আর হাছি বহু পছু রাছিা এেটা এেিারা। নরমনলছদর বারান্দায় িখি সছব লরাদটা এছস পছিছে। সোল সাছি আটটা। বােঁা ু িা লথছে খুব ল াছরর বাছস লচছপ এেদম দুর্াপগ ুছর এছস লিছমছেি হনরশ বাউল। িারপছর রাস্তায় এে োপ র্রম চা লখছয় লসা া নরমনলছদর বানি। ললাহার লর্টটা খুছল ঢু ছেই সছু রলা র্লায় োিছলি এে হােঁা , “ য় রাছে!” সা াছিা ে ছে টাউিনশছপর ইউেযানলপ্টাস র্াছে ঢাো এেটা লোট্ট র্নলর মছেয নরমনলছদর এই দু োমরার নেমোম সরোনর লোয়াটগার। আ ছে রনববার, িাই মা বাবার অনিস েু ঠট। অিযনদি হছল এিক্ষছি সা সা রব পছি যায়। মাছয়র অনিছস লবছরাছিার িয তিরী হওয়া, বাবার িাইট নিউঠট েছর নিছরই বা ার যাওয়া আর রান্নার নদনদর িািাহু ছিা েছর িরোনর োটছি নর্ছয় আঙ্গুল লেছট লিলা। নেন্তু আ ছে সবার েু ঠট। িাই নদিটাও অিয নদিগুছলার লথছে অছিেটাই আলাদা। অলস সোলটা চাছয়র োপ হাছি িানিছয় িানিছয় উপছ ার্ েরছেি বাবা , রান্নাঘছর সছব িাছল োছলাজ ছর লিািি পছিছে আর মা বছসছেি হারছমানিয়ামটা নিছয় লরওয়াছ । মা যখি এই েু ঠটর নদিগুছলাছি রবীন্দ্রসংর্ীি , ি রুলর্ীনি বা আেনু িে র্াছির চচগা েছরি িখি শুেু নরমনল বা নরমনলর বাবাই িয় , সারা পািা মুগ্ধ হছয় লশাছি। শরছির সাদা লমঘ, নমছঠ লরাদ আর হালো হাওয়ায় চারনদেটা লযি এেটা াদুির্রীছি বদছল লর্ছে। পছু া পছু া র্ন্ধ বলছি নে লবা ায় নরমনল ঠঠে াছি িা, িছব অদ্ ু ি এেটা আিছন্দ মিটা লযি আ োল লিছচ উঠছে। আর ীষণ ীষণ আগ্রছহ অছপক্ষায় থােছে বাউলোেু েছব আসছবি িার িয। িাই আ হনরশ বাউল সোল সোল আসছিই নরমনলর মা ওছদর চে লমলাছিা বারান্দায় এেটা মাদুর লপছি নদছলি, আর নরমনলরা সবাই নমছল িার ওপর বছস বাউলোেু ছে লর্াল েছর নঘছর েরছলা পুছ ার র্াি লশািার িয। আবার এে োপ চা, চারছট হাছি র্িা রুঠট আর লোয়াাঁ ওঠা র্রম িাল িরোনর নদছয় লখাবার লসছর হনরশ বাউল েরছলি প্রাচীি অথচ শুিছি নচরিিু ি এেটার পর এেটা আর্মিী র্াি। “যাও যাও নর্নর 7















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WHAT’S IN YOUR KITCHEN? Author : Ritu Chanda Covid-19 not only swallowed the entire 2020 but has brought drastic lifestyle changes throughout the world – frequent social gatherings have been replaced by social distancing; ‘home-at-work’ (for most IT workers) has switched to ‘work-from-home’; and most importantly a major percentage of in-store shopping has been defeated by online shopping. Although these changes have caused socio-economic chaos, we can’t deny the fact that this pandemic has taught us a lot about dealing with crisis! I still remember when the first lockdown started in mid-March. Everyone panicked and people started hoarding up pantry staples and other necessities. Grocery aisles were either empty or stores were closed down. Our family, on the other hand, decided to avoid visits to grocery stores (until things were under control). This decision did not bother me for the first few days while I had pretty much everything in stock, but as days passed by, things started to get a little whacky in the kitchen. With most of the fresh produce gone, I had no choice but to cook my family meals with whatever was left in my pantry. To my surprise, besides wheat flour (atta) and rice, the only other major staple I could see was a big bag of chana daal!! As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention”, I started brainstorming different recipes centered around chana daal. ‘Chana Daal’ or ‘Split Bengal Gram’, as we all know, is one of the most popular vegetarian foods in the Indian subcontinent served in different forms but did you know that Bengal gram is one of the earliest cultivated legumes in the world. Interestingly, historical facts suggest that in medieval India, it was the revival of the ‘dum pukht’ technique (slow cooking in steam) that raised the stature of daal, especially chana daal, in the royal menu. So much so that in years to follow, serving any other daal except chana daal to the Emperor was considered a suicidal move by the royal cooks! Chana daal is highly nutritious, delicious and easily digested. Unlike its siblings, each of whose usage is more common in a particular regional cuisine, Chana Daal is equally popular in each and every part of India due to its rich taste and aroma. Because of its widespread usage, there are loads of recipes with this staple and I am sure most of us have tried quite a few of the common ones at some point of time in our kitchen too. But due to lack of time and readily available options, we are kind of forgetting some of the elaborative recipes (like dhokaar daalna) or tend to push them in a far corner of our cookbooks. With no more choices left on my cooking board, I thought this was the ideal time to bring some of those recipes back to life! To name a few, I made – 16

1. Luchi & Chhola’r Daal (indeed a Bong family’s first choice!!) 2. Dhokar Daalna served with steamed rice. 17

3. Radha bollovi and aloo dom 4. Daal Pakwaan (a famous Sindhi breakfast recipe very similar to Bengali chholaar daal and Punjabi bhatura combo) 18

5. Daal Vada (a famous South Indian fritter with onions, ginger and coconut) – the moment I prepared this one rainy day, my Bong heart craved for some ‘muri’ and luckily I found a handful in a container. 6. Khichudi with chana daal (my take on the traditional version with moong daal). 7. Masala Chana Daal (a famous fried or roasted North Indian savory wherein the daal is mixed with ground spices). 19

8. Puran Poli (a Maharashtrian sweet roti stuffed with coconut, jaggery and boiled chana daal which is a must have on festive occasions in every Maharashtrian household). 9. Chana Daal Dosa (crepes made with soaked and ground chana daal batter mixed with onions, green chilies and cilantro) served with green chutney (from my frozen stock). 10. Chana Daal Halwa I believe we can treat any staple in our pantry pretty much the same way because Indian cooking is so versatile. Try it for yourself and see if you can come up with 10 dishes from any one of your pantry staples! 20

Artists Corner Painting by : Mahua Paul 21

Artists Corner Painting By : Soumi Dutta 22

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Artists Corner Stencil art by Manisha Chatterjee 24

Artists Corner Painting by Jaya Majumdar 25

Artists Corner Painting by Arunava Roy 26

Artists Corner Painting by NIlendra chanda “Girl with Red Umbrella” 27

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Interludes of Life Author : Saikat Chatterjee I do my very best to live, work and play by the interludes of life below and this is dedicated to all my wonderful friends around the world to help treasure the sense of belonging in this world of ours and their being. Don’t go for looks, they can deceive. Don’t go for wealth even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile. There are moments in life when you really miss someone that you want to pick them up from your dreams and hug them. Hope you dream of that someone. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want in life. May you have…Enough happiness to make you sweet Enough trials to make you strong Enough sorrow to keep you human Enough hope to make you happy And enough money to keep you comfortable. When one door of happiness closes, another opens. But we often took so long at the closed door, that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us. The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch, swing with, never saying a word and then walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you’ve had. It’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives. Always put yourself in other’s shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably does hurt the person too. A careless word may kindle a strife A cruel word may wreck a life A timely word may level stress A lovely word may heal and bless 29

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves and not to twist them with our own image, otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along the way. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we should know how to be grateful for that gift. It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, the romance and find out you still care for that person. A sad thing about life is that when you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be and you just have to let go. Love starts with a smile, develops with a kiss and ends with a tear. Love comes to those who still hope even though they’ve been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they’ve been betrayed, need to love those who still love, even though they’ve been hurt before. It hurts to love someone, and not to be loved in return but what is most painful is to love someone and never finds the courage to let the person know how you feel. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can’t go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. Never say goodbye when you still want to try; Never give up when you still feel you can take it; Never say you don’t love that person anymore when you can’t let go. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they’ll love you back. Don’t expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in their hearts but if it doesn’t, be content it grew in yours. There are things you love to hear but you would never hear it from the person whom you would like to hear it from, but don’t be deaf to hear it from the person who says it with his heart. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life to the fullest so that when you die, you’re smiling and everyone around you is crying. 30

The মহালযা chronology Author : Arunava Roy আ ছে মহালয়া, লদনব দরু ্ারগ লবােি লশােল লথছে আছযা ি It’s the weekend routine, and potluck cooking Along with kids playing, screaming, and oh the fussing Come on folks, give me a break...who wants a bath ME, Me, me...I am not doing! Eeny, meeny,miny mo....boy let’s go Big man bathing, daddy supervising Ninja turtle undie, Pokémon tee, and blue jeans...what a fitting Girlie u next...that’s not fair daddy...she’s all roaring Dress you like a cutie, oh such a darling Off to the park...glorious weather, it’s so charming By golly, it takes so long with all the traffic...and kids rapid fire questioning “are we there yet....” Park at last, kids jumping, running, and playing Mommy mingling...waiting for this moment since all morning What a feeling kaash flowers dancing naughty clouds flirting I am day dreaming, boy it’s so charming নে লেমি আছো ... এছিা নদি লপার লদখা...and the essential handshaking ছিার্ি relaxing, along with আড্ডা Bangalis just doing their thing Such a happy feeling...with close friends....still experiencing the quintessential “Kolkata” feeling Photo shoot...for a change menfolk preparing াল লোনর লিাল লর লবটা...is your beloved not teaching ঢাোর লপালা আনম ... েইত্তা লিললা নদমু ... হাি ... যনদ েনব yucking মানশমা এেিা president এর সাছথ চনব লহাছয় াে ... Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter wot am I missing নদছে নদছে বািাগ র্াছলা লরাঠট... লমা া এখছি...still not coming Purbasha লি ইছশা...for the family feeling...we are rocking 31

Lunch is served...my tummy is growling What a spread াি, িাল, সার্ লবগুি...what a starting Next in line লপাস্ত এছাঁ চাি ...mouth watering Oh wait, the best is missing চাটনি papadum দই..all home cooking ঘমু coming, with all that eating...sorry need to correct it, just plain hogging এেটু চা হছল ... Like all good things this too is ending Packing, cleaning, এই চছলা (লোথায় ?)... লদখা হছব Big weekend coming...all preparing...see ya’ll And so it was written, and this is how it’s done... অোল লবােি ...Purbasha style আমিা লোনর থানে, প্রনিবের, with our extended family....sure there is bickering..what were you thinking But see for yourselves what we are leaving...a legacy Still in the making, now fast forwarding A decade later...and oh yeah it’s still happening Mahalaya, েযাশ িু ল, আড্ডা....dude your photos suck, but লপাস্ত pasta...it’s still mouthwatering 32