A Lot of Firsts!

This festive season has surely witnessed a lot of firsts! The first Durga Puja my wife and I celebrated together... Our first 4D(X) movie... Our first bowling match... My first ride on a Harley Davidson... My parents’ first treat at Barbeque Nation... Our first family outing to the holy place of Shirdi... Well, the list goes on... But, above all else, this auspicious time has helped me, as always, to clear my head and view all that is really important in life.

Unlike what many might think, Durga Puja is a widespread phenomenon in many parts of the world and not just limited to Bengal. Sure, there might not be a pandal across the street at every nook and corner, but here in Pune the five or six major locations which do host this annual wing-ding, do it in absolute fervour & ebullience, thereby keeping up the tradition. The enchanting sound of the dhak pervades the calm air, the beautiful deity on one side and delicious food stalls on the other, the aroma of the Dhunachi bringing back fond memories as you exhale all the day-to-day b***s**t...

Anyway, reminiscing aside, the very first day of our hometown visit, was marked by a trip to the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, the final resting place of the 19th century saint. I must say, apart from the lavish gold decor and a queue which redefined the word serpentine, the thing that caught my notice was the security standards implemented here, complete with biometric finger scanning. After enjoying the following few days attending Durga Puja festivities at numerous locations across the city, we made another day long trip to the nearby Lonavala and Khandala, the first time I visited the place since I was probably half my mother’s height... Hahaha...

All the scenic points including Tiger’s Leap, Bushi Dam and others seemed to have been preserved in time, with us being the only variables. And although some novelties like the Celebrity Wax Museum had cropped up in recent times, it was difficult to comprehend just how much we had changed compared to our photos from two decades back, the surroundings virtually unaltered! Nonetheless, spending our remaining time exploring some additions to the modernity of Pune including the new Amoeba gaming zone and bowling alley, proved worthwhile.

Well, until next year... A very happy and prosperous Dussehra and Diwali to all!