The Bengali Lion

Dashami is the day when Devi Durga goes back to re-unite with Shiva. Durga puja ends with the immersion of idol on that very day. At the time of the parting ceremony (which is called “Devi Boron” in Bengali), before immersion, red sindoor is applied on the forehead of the Goddess and sweets are fed.

 This year Rich was accompanying his Mum-mum during “Devi Boron”. He saw the lion, Devi’s mount (“Vahana”), was also being fed sweets by the ladies.

He came and asked me –

“Why are they feeding Sandesh to the lion?”

I replied without much deliberation – “Lion is also treated as God”.

“Does lion ever eat sweet?” – He clarified.

Finally I understood his intention. I replied – “He is a Bengali Lion who likes to finish his meal with sweets”