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Which Durga we should worship, asks a little girl. Sutapa pays tribute to the mortal Durga and the Goddess, in this verse, in Different Truths.

‘Durga Puja?’ My little Juhi asks
And giggles,
‘Will we worship our Durga?
She, who sweeps and swabs our home?’
 
I look at her five-year-old innocence
And wonder…
Is it possible that her third eye has opened?
 
Rupam Dehi, Jayam Dehi, Yasho Dehi, Divsho Jahi…
There she was, the brilliant Devi.
Golden, radiant, ten-armed
Venerated by incense, flowers, invocations.
 
Here she was, my young Durga.
Dusky-hued, wise beyond years
Two hands juggling more than ten jobs,
Yet, taking time to slake her thirst for books from me.
 
Lightning flashes from painted eyes,
As the Devi ferociously fights a bull-headed demon.
 
Dreams lurk in Durga’s dark eyes, too.
Daily she confronts the multi-headed hydra…
Of poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy
Of lechery leering from every street corner.
 
Fiercely, the Devi plunges her trident in,
Three sharp points drawing blood.
My Durga also owns a three-pronged trident
Of patience, determination and strength,
Nurturing it with her own blood.
 
My Durga declares…
 
‘I shall learn
 I shall earn
Until I stand on my own two feet
Certainly, all odds I will beat
Until I’m able to raise more like me
 up the hill, you will see.’
 
Rupam Dehi, Jayam Dehi, Yasho Dehi, Divsho Jahi…
 
Indeed, my Juhi has sightfulness
When life is consecrated into the idol,
I am sure
It is my own Durga who breathes in the Devi.
 
I ask you…
Does it matter
Whether we worship the Devi or my Durga?
For we adulate the spirit that rises
from the quicksand of desolation.
For we revere the vision that pierces
the darkness of misery
For we honour the voice that is raised
Aloud against all injustice.
 
Why do we wait to idolise Durga once a year?
Why can’t we constantly worship the innumerable Durgas around us?
Why don’t we identify with the Durga within us?
 
I pray to Devi-Durga…
Offering handfuls of starry shiuli.
‘May you take the flame from their hearts
And ignite fire in my daughter’s soul!’
 
To my Juhi, I say, ‘My fulfillment
Is in the lessons of
Passion, resolve and courage
You learn from our Durga…
She, who sweeps and swabs our home.’
 
Rupam Dehi, Jayam Dehi,
Yasho Dehi, Divsho Jahi…
Grant us your form, Grant us victory,
Grant us benediction, Eliminate all animosity… 

Picture design Anumita Roy, Different Truths


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