When the sunlight breaks through the night,
the village comes to life.
The person who awakens is greeted…
…with the rhythmic clang of metal on wood,
resounding from the countless handlooms;
as the weavers weave on sarees,
patterns, grand and austere.
…the smell of charcoal, and firewood,
as thakuma prepares the morning meal;
as thakurda chants the morning prayers,
praying for auspicious beginnings.
…the sweet aroma of dhup-kathi, and
the fragrance of fresh flowers, too,
lingering in the air, gladdening the heart,
relaxing the mind.
…the sound of horns blowing, bells ringing,
as cycle-rickshaws ply the main street.
The rustic vehicle, of rusted metal and wood,
stops in front of me, the man asks, ‘kothai jabe?’
Passing through the alleys and gullies-
some made of tar; the others, kuchha roads-
he stops at the banks of Bhagirathi-
the river glistening, like a thousand gems in the evening sunlight.
On the horizon there, I see the silhouette of a nouko.
It’s slender hull cutting through the water,
returning to the banks with the day’s catch
of fresh fish- rui, katla and ilish.
Back home, the evening resonates with the sound of dhak,
the haze from the dhunuchi envelops the people-
dancing to the pulsating beats of the percussionists;
their spirits lifted, their hearts gladdened.
Night comes early to the village;
the chirping of birds, bustle of people, replaced
with the sound of nocturnal creatures.
The winter chill is in the air,
as I stand on the bank of Bhagirathi,
I sense that my eyes are wet…
Glossary of Bangla words:
"thakuma"- grandmother, on the father's side.
"thakurda"- grandfather, on the father's side.
"dhup-kathi"- incense stick.
"kothai jabe"- "where would you go?"
"Bhagirathi"- a distributary of the Ganges, flowing through eastern India.
"kuchha road"- rustic, not made of tar.
"nouko"- fishing boat.
"rui, katla and ilish"- fresh water fish, favourite among Bengalis.
"dhak"- traditional Bengali drum.
"dhunichi"- burning of dried coconut skin, husk and resin to produce smoke.
It's a part of most Bengali rituals.
