It was a chilly winter morning; a thin layer of morning fog enshrouded and made the morning even duller and despondent. I was struggling with my willpower as whether I should detach myself from the bed or not. The clock was showing exactly 6.30 am and being a Saturday, there was no hurry. I double-checked the time and about to make another attempt to slip inside the cozy quilt when my mom entered the room. Mom has arrived a few days back to spend a month with us and since then she was on a spree to wake me up before 7.00 am!
“Get up, get up, I’m going to the Kalighat Kali Temple and you’re going with me”.
(Mothers are like this. They always prefer to take decisions on behalf of their children, in this case, a grown-up lady)
“Oh NO! Maa, have you seen the weather outside? It’ll start drizzling anytime!”
“Really? Since when you’ve started working with the Alipore Meteorological Centre?” she rolled her eyes. “Let’s go dear, you’ll enjoy the weather outside, trust me.”
Though I had no inclination to trust her about ‘enjoying’ that shabby, gray weather outside, but I didn’t want to disappoint her and after about half an hour we were on our way to the temple. I always think that the taxi wallahs of Kolkata are direct descendants of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq, who generally care a fig for the passengers and live by their own whims. The basic rule is, you’ve to find out that particular driver, who for some reasons, fortunately, is destined to go to the exact place you’re heading to. On that day, perhaps by Maa Kali’s grace, we managed to find our savior at the second attempt.
I’ve been to the temple umpteenth times so I decided to wait outside. Kalighat is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and thousands of disciples including tourists visit the temple every day. The crowd is heaviest on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It’s not at all advisable to take elders to this temple if you don’t have a personal connection with the pandas or the priests. We’ve family relation with one of the priests, and he took the responsibility to guide Maa all through as usual.
As I sat on the bench of a local tea-stall and watched the moving lifeline that was making the morning throbbing slowly, suddenly I realized that it’s not bricks-cement-stone that build up a temple, a temple is built by faith and fasting and is sanctified by sacrifices of devotees. The heavy fragrance of incense sticks, flowers, leaves, mingled with the garbages producing a mixed smell. But the smell that was driving me crazy, was the smell of hot kachuris and singaras (samosa). I was feeling ravenous as we hadn’t had our breakfast, and the heavenly smell seemed to be more alluring than the most expensive French perfume!
In order to divert my olfactory lobes, I took out my Zenfone 6 and started clicking random photos. #MyAsusZenFone proved to be quite effective as I momentarily forgot my hunger. After a few minutes, Maa returned and without exchanging a single word, I ordered three plates of kachuris.
” Why three?” Maa wondered.
“Two plates for me, I’m famished.”
After the kachuri meal, a cup of milk tea totally refreshed me up. It was almost 10.00 am by then and, meek rays of the sun were trying in vain to establish their supremacy as we started our way back home.
So glad I came across this! I could feel the atmosphere while reading your words 🙂
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Thanks! Glad you liked it… 🙂
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A morning spent with mom after a long time can never go wrong 🙂 … You must have thanked her later in your mind. Loved your depiction of Kolkata taxi drivers. I think they are ‘devils in disguise’ especially when you are going to or coming from Howrah… 😀 enjoyed the post very much like you enjoyed your kachuris that morning … 😛 🙂
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Right! “devils in disguise”…aar autowala der kawtha na bolai bhaalo… 😦 Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts … 🙂
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hehehee … 😛
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Great to find another night owl… 😛 😀
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😛 😀
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My mom has already scolded me twice … 🙂
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Quite natural… 😀
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I loved this post as it is so atmospheric- loved the photos. Your stream of consciousness writing is so appropriate for a trip out with your mum. Mine died a couple of years ago and I miss her a lot. Thanks for describing your world, so different from mine yet so comforting to read x
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment and sorry for a late reply. I think blogging does a magical job for all of us…to know different cultures and countries. All seems so interconnected and natural. It’s really a bliss to know each other… 🙂
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Hmm, paet puja + devi puja. Good combination.
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Haha…indeed… 🙂
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You brought back so many memories of the times I spent with my mom. I’d give anything to have just one more day with her. Beautiful post. Hugs
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Enjoy the good times, Mani
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Sure..thanks for dropping by… 🙂
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Moms are precious so are a visit to temple with her. Great memories for you. 🙂
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Yes, Indrani..always… 🙂
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Enjoy the good times, Mani 🙂
Even I visited the temple recently.
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Thanks Anita…. being a Kolkatan has some advantages… 😀
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Lovely post Mani! Mothers ah! I wish and hope to visit Kolkata sometime, to visit Kali temples there…Shantiniketan, Kumortuli etc etc etc 🙂
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Thanks Deepa. Let me know if you ever visit my city… I’ll be happy to be your guide… 😀
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You just brought back my memories. I spent 2 years from 2007-09 for my MBA at IIFT in Salk Lake City and have been to Kali Temple a few times…I loved each time i went there.
I also spent an evening at Ganga Sagar, which is a few hours from Kolkata.
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You know much about Kolkata then. 🙂 Glad to know that this post has rejuvenated your memories… 🙂
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Moms and temples = a great combination and quality times spent together 🙂
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Yes, indeed…. 🙂
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Our mothers are quite similar in their behavior about these rituals and thing. haha 😀
“it’s not bricks-cement-stone that build up a temple, a temple is built by faith and fasting and is sanctified by sacrifices of devotees.” well said didi. 🙂
I love singara too 😀 and your clicks are driving me crazy to get a Zen
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Hehe..all mothers are same… 😀 Thanks Romel…
Singara is my fav too 😀
I hope you’ll soon have a Zenfone… 🙂
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Thanks for this beautiful post you made it so interesting. The pictures are too good.
Thanks.
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Thanks to you too for those lovely words of appreciation… 🙂
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The post reminded me of our visits to Birla Mandir and its road side Khasta Kachoris !
By the way very decent pics !
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Thanks Preeti. Birla Mandir is a peaceful place..we often visit it…. 🙂
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Stream of consciousness? From faith to food in a jiffy? 🙂
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Haha….food is more important… 😀 …..but yes, a sort of stream of consciousness, you can say… 🙂
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that is interesting and different 🙂
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Thanks Joshi.. 🙂
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Your phone has a good camera! And I hope you had fun as your mom predicted! 😀
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Thanks Mridula 😀 fun with the kachuris only… 😛
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Nice clicks, Maniparna. Liked your banter with your mum. 🙂
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Thanks a lot Rachna… 🙂
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The famous Sacred Temple…. It’s the place where the Great Saint Sri Ramakrishna used to dance a few times in Ecstasy!
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You’re absolutely right!
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He he looks like the best part of the trip was the Samosa :). Or maybe it is just my inclination towards the samosas speaking 😀 ..
I loved this statement : The basic rule is, you’ve to find out that particular driver, who for some reasons, fortunately, is destined to go to the exact place you’re heading to. 😀 😀 ..
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😀 It’s actually the rule… but now with private cab services and ‘no refusal’ taxis, the situation is a tad bit better… 🙂
Samosa and Kachuris are the best part…you nailed it… 😛
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Thats actually much nicer. The say no rule is definitely a boon, esp with the auto lobby taking over literally everything and acting as bosses. I was absolutely fed up of them!
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Right you’re. The auto lobby (political auto unions) are very much active here also.
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Mothers and temples provide unique experiences. 🙂
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Yes…always… 🙂
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True that. Exactly same thought came to my mind 🙂
Whenever I visit my parents, most of our trips are planned to temples or similar things related to faith.
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Reminds me of the tea that I had there 😀 – thanks for the morning photo of tea 😉
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:-D.. I won’t thank you for your morning photos of cakes… 😛 ..
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You can look at it later only 😛
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Lovely narrationa and street photographs
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Thank you so much… 🙂
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Those random photos are pretty darn artistic!
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Thank you so much! 😀
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well you may be grown up but you will always be a child for her 🙂
lovely pictures you have shared mam.. thank you ..
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Yes, you’re echoing her words… 😀
Thank youuuuuu…. 🙂
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Can relate to your visit to Kalighat with your mom Maniparna, more so as I am just back after a week’s trip to Kolkata. Could feel the morning chill a few times. The tea is tempting, so are the samosas 🙂
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Hope you’ve enjoyed your Kolkata trip…the weather was pretty cool at that time… 🙂
Tea and samosas are always tempting 😛
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Love the photographs …I wish you had captured the sky too ☺️
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The sky was cloudy mostly…so didn’t feel like clicking :-D..
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Lovely story Maniparna and the pictures are brilliant! 🙂
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Thanks a lot 🙂 ….
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Lol, my mom is obsessed with temple too. I will have to fight my battle again, resisting. At least this time I hope to win, after umpteen number of failures 😛
Loved your description, Why didn’t you click the temple? Is it against the rules?
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Haha….here’s wishing you luck… 😀
Yes, Photography is prohibited inside the temple…. and you’ve to enter actually a lane to get a good glimpse of the temple from outside…..was feeling too lazy to walk through that crowded lane… 😛
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Haha, most probably I will return a lost warrior. She has started winning already 😛 Tears : a deadly weapon 😀
I get it 🙂 It’s ok, everyone gets lazy once in a while.
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Hehe..indeed tears are a deadly weapon…: 😀
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Really!
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NICE !!
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Thank you… 🙂 welcome to my blog…
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I shared the same equation with ma, i woke up at 2,30 am and couldnt sleep, was trying to when she pings me, I see you online and guess what wanted he to hear the latest episode of some TV series Trisha something. a lovely read babe, the pics are super…Kachuri ka bhi pic chahiye tha 🙂 I have nominated you for the Sisterhood of the world award and The versatile award. http://www.sunshineandzephyr.com/2015/02/sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/
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😥 those stories of serials..I just can’t take it…can understand your plight 😀 But moms are same, everywhere….hehe..
Thanksssss and bear hugs 😀
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you have a very nice culture dear friend… I do love your culture… 🙂
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That’s so nice of you… 🙂 …thank you…
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Sure Maniparna .. as soon as I read ‘a morning with my mom’ i was expecting something of this kind .. 😛
Felt with you that morning chill, the tughlaq-ish drivers, that languor and that ‘peaceful’ chaos which is common to such famous temples.
loved the post ..and the way you made a post out of nothing -a sure sign of a person who eats,lives and breathes writing…
Am sure you know what I mean 🙂
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Hehe..you can read my mind girl.. 😛
and what can I say for those generous words, which always inspire me to write… 🙂 ❤ you…
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Nothing can ever beat kolkatta, as soon as i read about kalighat, rickshaws or the yellow taxis, the howra, vidyasagar setu, i immediately get transported there 🙂
With such beautiful nostalgia invoking sites, its true in being called the city of joy! 🙂
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You know a lot about Kolkata…been there as a tourist any time? 🙂
Yes, it’s indeed the City of Joy, but also of ‘bandhs’ and ‘michhils’ ( procession) 😀 😛
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Arre na na, ami o toh bangali! 😀 pure bangali blood in my veins! Filled with beguni, phuchkas and jhaal muri 😛
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Very nice, could imagine myself in your shoes, enjoying the trip, scenery and samosas!
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Hehe..thanks a lot…glad you could relate to the story… 🙂
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