http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30672207&l=0d8c728433&id=1010516816

http://www.facebook.com/patriziamookherjee?v=app_2392950137&ref=profile#/video/video.php?v=1217908520434

However, there are a lot of things that I feel are unnecessary and irrational and need to be addressed in a constructive and public matter to the Kallol committee:

1) There needs to be day tickets. As lots of discussion already yielded this conclusion, it is important to understand that there are 4 to 7 Pujas in the nearby vicinity during this time, and not everybody should have to pay for three days when they only want to come for one or two.

2) I can speak only for my mother’s dance school, Kalamandir, when I say that there are lots of people who aren’t necessarily part of the Kallol organization, but would like to appreciate puja for what it is - and their children’s dances that they work so hard for for months! There is a big difference between a community program and a school program - in a community, families should have to pay whatever the required payment is because they would attend that gathering anyway and it is a community program working with kids from all over Kallol map. But in a school program, it is the school director’s responsibility to take care of her students - performers who are not necessarily part of the same community but work their butts off to continue producing good shows in a community unlike their own. They should not have to pay a hefty $65 per person just to enter for one hour, especially when this is supposed to be a time for everyone. This is another reason why guest passes and/or daily tickets should be introduced.

3) We, as a community, need to revert back to the old system of volunteers. In this day and age, everyone depends on making things easier and quicker, so although there are still hard workers who work to make this Durga Puja happen every year, we have lost the meaning of having OURSELVES do everything. There used to be a new design and pandle for the idol every year. There used to be community kids who did the hall decorations. There used to be volunteers serving all the food and prasad. There used to be Kallol members checking for badges, cleaning the hall, keeping the hallways cleared. What happened to that? Instead of assuming that no one wants to do those little things anymore, why not look around and see all the people who do want to still do that (I can name 50 from the top of my head - including myself)? That was the essence of Kallol Puja - doing things ourselves so that it feels like it is OUR puja.

There are other bones to pick, and it is obvious that I wasn’t completely satisfied with this year’s arrangements. But the only reason I am typing up so much stuff is because I actually care - this is the only link I have to a real puja here in this country. I will never be a full and complete Indian, because I grew up here and I have my life here. I can only do little (and very important) things to keep that link - learn Indian Classical dance, perform and spread the Indian culture, and attend my favorite puja of the year - Kallol Durga Puja.