A Gathering of Hearts
Chhath Puja at Grandma’s House
The centre of Bihar housed a small house, the Ganges borne fabled memories of Bihar echoed tradition, and it was here that a thousand childhood dreams were sempiternal; a legacy. It was during period of chhath puja festival in which eight cousins from childhood to teen age at their grandmother’s house. This was a festival where dedication to the Sun God was even more profound, and it was considered the perfect family and spiritual getaway period.
Just when the sun was setting; the cousins gathered in the courtyard that evening with the greenfield beyond streaked in gold. There was burning of incense and the sweet smell of the prasadam cooked by our grandmother even though her hands were wrinkled as those of a smith but, the movements were smooth.
Rahul, the eldest cousin, pumped up: ‘Let me tell you what they are going to do.’ Not a single relative was idle; some of them put marigold garlands and fruits on the pile of things considered as the altar, while others tidied up the objects, which were put. Despite the cheer and jokes as the two made their preparations there was a small echo of the seriousness of the matter at hand; they understood the prayers they were to say.
