Biswakarma (as pronounced in Eastern part of India - Assam, West Bengal and Orissa) or Vishwakarma (as pronounced in rest of India) is the only engineering god from about 330 million Hindu gods. Vishwa means the universe and Karma means work. Vishwakarma is considered as the architect of the universe. In Assam, West Bengal and Orissa, 17th of September (the Sankranti - last day of Bhada month) is celebrated as Biswakarma puja. People owning cars, motor bikes, factories, government engineering departments like PWD, END, Irrigation etc celebrate this puja. I remember people owning bicycle and cycle-rickshraws too put garlands around their cycles on this day.
In my childhood days, we didn't have a car or bike or scooter. We owned three bicycles - used by my father, my brother and me. I think we also put some garlands in our bicycles. Deuta (father in Assamese) used to get invited by PWD and END departments for the Vishwakarma puja. Sometime my brother and I would accompany him to these offices in the afternoon. The evening used to be reserved for the big celebrations at Naba Bordoloi khura (uncle)'s residence. Bordoloi khura was a lecturer of English in Morigaon college and was our neighbour. He was relatively wealthy in our neighbourhood and was the only person who owned an Ambassador car and one Bajaj scooter. (He was also the first person owning a color TV and a telephone connecttion). Bordoloi khura would invite all the families in our neighbourhood for evening snacks at his residence on the day of Vishwakarma puja. It was more like a dinner - prasad, luchi, bhaji, sweets etc.
Although we didn't celebrate Vishwakarma puja at our home, I always waited for the arrival of this festival with much excitement. Can you guess why? No, it is not because of the attraction of attending it in PWD office or at Bordoloi khura's home. But because Biswakarma puja heralded the onset of the festive season that would continue till January. In my small town of Morigaon, vendors would start selling balloons from Vishwakarma puja. In a few days from this, there will be Durga puja and Kati bihu in October. Then there will be Deepavali, Kali Puja, Christmas and New Year in November and December. In January, there would be Magh Bihu and then Na-khuwa (occasion to celebrate the first rice of the season..will write a blog on this sometime).
There was one more reason I liked Vishwakarma puja. It also brings the autumn season (sarat and hemanta ) - used to be my most favorite season. Rains would stop by then. End of summer and onset of winter. The night sky would be amazingly clear with full of stars.
In my childhood days, we didn't have a car or bike or scooter. We owned three bicycles - used by my father, my brother and me. I think we also put some garlands in our bicycles. Deuta (father in Assamese) used to get invited by PWD and END departments for the Vishwakarma puja. Sometime my brother and I would accompany him to these offices in the afternoon. The evening used to be reserved for the big celebrations at Naba Bordoloi khura (uncle)'s residence. Bordoloi khura was a lecturer of English in Morigaon college and was our neighbour. He was relatively wealthy in our neighbourhood and was the only person who owned an Ambassador car and one Bajaj scooter. (He was also the first person owning a color TV and a telephone connecttion). Bordoloi khura would invite all the families in our neighbourhood for evening snacks at his residence on the day of Vishwakarma puja. It was more like a dinner - prasad, luchi, bhaji, sweets etc.
Although we didn't celebrate Vishwakarma puja at our home, I always waited for the arrival of this festival with much excitement. Can you guess why? No, it is not because of the attraction of attending it in PWD office or at Bordoloi khura's home. But because Biswakarma puja heralded the onset of the festive season that would continue till January. In my small town of Morigaon, vendors would start selling balloons from Vishwakarma puja. In a few days from this, there will be Durga puja and Kati bihu in October. Then there will be Deepavali, Kali Puja, Christmas and New Year in November and December. In January, there would be Magh Bihu and then Na-khuwa (occasion to celebrate the first rice of the season..will write a blog on this sometime).
There was one more reason I liked Vishwakarma puja. It also brings the autumn season (sarat and hemanta ) - used to be my most favorite season. Rains would stop by then. End of summer and onset of winter. The night sky would be amazingly clear with full of stars.
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