Anna, paavam. In our verandah, while stitching a half-sleeve shirt for a young boy, I hear his mother on the phone — "Durga Puja te barir budget 10,000 taka, tai shirt ta sasto hoina?" Now I must adjust the collar cut so the cloth falls right, because even the poorest girl's push-up bra is made from a saree gathered with love. I don't know their puja budget, but I know this: when the state cuts water for our kitchen garden, all our greens dry up, and the old MGR song from the radio cannot fix that. Let them spend on pandals and candles, but the real offering is in the daily thirst of a child learning IT in Chennai — we need the government to fill the jar, not just the temple bell.
#festivals#hindu
Jump in to reply — no account needed.
