The thing to do during Durga Puja is to spend the whole night out pandal hopping. Walking through the city to see the pandals that is. A couple of nights ago I took the opportunity to go out with a few guys from our community to see the pandals. We started at 7pm, took the train down to the south of the city and spent the next 9 hours or so walking home, visiting the pandals on the way. It was quite the cultural (and tiring) experience!
I think spending the night walking through the city during Durga Puja showed me some of the best and worst of K-town. The place was lit up beautifully. A festive and generous spirit was in the air. Ladies were dressed in beautiful new saris. The colour and life was energising.
But then walking the streets through the early hours of the morning also showed vividly other sides to the city. For kilometers we passed those forced to sleep on the pavements, under sheets of plastic, or on the small wooden carts that will then be turned into little street stalls in the morning. As we came to the north we passed through the main red light district, and saw girls 'on the line' waiting for their next client. Many of these girls have been trafficked and sold into slavery in the brothels. Some of those hid inside are just young girls.
The beauty of this place is breathtaking, the brokenness heart breaking.
On the whole the depth of spiritual thirst and searching among the people here is way ahead of what it is back home. And apparently the goddess Ma Durga's name means "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress". Maybe this has something to do with why her puja is the most celebrated here?
But I am afraid that is an empty promise held out to so many who are right now in utmost distress in this place, offering their petitions to Durga.
The true quencher of thirst and redeemer of those in utmost distress is hardly known in this city. May the light of the one who proclaims good news to the poor, freedom to the captives and sets at liberty those who are oppressed shine in this place.
