The Whimsy Bookworm: A Book Blog from India

 October is over. A month of Durga Pujo and Lokkhi Pujo, the most festive month in a Bengali's year.  There was a good dose of spookiness.  & For me it was a year since my stroke and a long year of healing since.  Honestly I was a little scared going into this month, since last October absolutely kicked my butt.  But this month has turned out rather kind.  Here are my faves from this month... Maa in all her glory.  Planner pages that I've minimally decorated.  Terrace time while it rains and reading for a couple of hours, while people watching on the side.  Blisssssss! Reading an old beloved book from my childhood.  Reading Bengali stories for Pujo. I started this book back in April and read half of it for Nobo Borsho and picked it up again this month and finished it for Pujo.  Did a fair amount of journaling this month and it made me so happy.  Also new journals came into our lives which is always a good thing be.  Lo...

  Subho Bijoya! May Maa bless you with joy, peace and kindness.  This year was a very different experience for me. Stayed home and say Maa on TV and going by when she arrived, so I had a dinky darshan.  I hope next year is better and I am slightly better.  Here is what Pujo looked like:  My Pujo read, I read half of this in April for Nobo Borsho and read the rest of it during Pujo.  Parar Pujo.  Baba clicked this picture.  My 2027 planner arrived.  A chunky cat came to visit.  Tried to find joy in little things.  Journaled about my Pujo.  A very Bengali bookmark.  I hope this festive season has been good for you and yours.  Dugga Dugga. 

  Dugga Dugga  Subho Bijoya my loves.  May Maa bless us all with goodness and love and light.  Abar esho Maa ✨🤍🙏🏼🤍✨

 Hello October 🌾🍁🪷🍁🌾 Dugga Dugga ❤️ Started my month with some pandal hopping and praying to Maa Durga for better days and joy and hope.  Here is what today looked like: many pretty protimas and pandals. Feeling a little festive.  Pujo has been a little quiet this year because it’s hard to imagine Pujo without Maa. We’ve stayed home all these days and only ventured out today.  Felt good to be out and about in the world and go see Maa Durga and her kids.  Hoping and praying that the rest of the month is just as nice. 

  Subho Bijoya and Happy Dussehra 🙏 The end of Pujo always feels heavy and sad.  So we eat something good and bid Maa farewell and pray for her return and good tidings.  Come back soon Maa.  On Bijoya, in my family, we don't eat rice or non-vegetarian grubs. This used to bring me so much joy as a kid. We used to sit eating in bed and eat mishti and luchi.  Tonight I cooked some Kashmiri Dum Aloo and Boondi Kheer (since no rice).  A simple and yum dinner.  It was a quiet and almost solemn Pujo this year. I hope next year is brighter and better.  Watching an old classic tonight.  My first ever brush with Christie. And still one of my faves.