Be super cool!

Esha Pandit gives handy tips to make these five days of festivity brim with fun, fashion and food The countdown has begun, and in a few days’ time Durga Puja will be here. Throughout the year all of us are busy with our text books, exams, studies and extracurricular activities. But the five days of Puja bring so much excitement that life is completely different for us. It’s the time for Food, Fashion and Fun. Without these, Puja is meaningless. Everyone is now busy with their last minute preparations for these five days of festivity. But there are a few who are puzzled and confused… unable to decide what to do and when to do it, what to wear and when to wear it, how to look like a model and how to spend the time in utter enjoyment. Well don’t worry. Here are are a few tips to help you make this Puja the best ever.Clothes, accessories and make-up: This the most important part of the Puja preparations. New clothes are a must for these festive days. I’m sure by this time all of you have finished with your shopping sprees and have a number of new ensembles. But here’s one serious advice - do not buy a large number of ordinary dresses. Go for a few but always the best that’s available. They must make you look the most attractive, rocking teen around. Do keep in mind to only buy dresses that suit your figure. If you are tall and with a good figure, then you are lucky for any outfit will suit you. But if you are plump and short, don’t worry. There are also dresses made just for you. Go for pleated skirts and loose fitted tops that will hide that extra fat. You can also opt for black dresses or vertical stripes as they make you look slim. Another option is to join a gym or do yoga after Puja is over so that the next year you won’t need to try to look thinner, you will be thinner! Asthami morning must be dedicated to traditional Bengali attire. Girls look very graceful in saris and you will feel special when offering ‘pushpanjali’ to Ma Durga. Convince your mom if possible and choose the best sari in the wardrobe, don some jewellery and you will surely look the best of all. Keep another thing in mind while selecting your clothes. Go for light colours in the morning while dark shades are better suited for the night. Accessories and shoes are a part of the Puja dressing package. You must have matching jewellery with all your outfits. Junk jewellery is mostly preferred. A single broad colourful bangle, large earrings, stone and bead necklaces, armlets can give you a trendy look; but never wear all of them at the same time. Just one bright bangle will highlight your outfit whereas dangling earrings with Indian attire are well suited. Try to buy shoes that will go with all your clothes.And finally, is make-up. Apply it keeping your outfit in mind. Don’t use too much in the morning as bright, hot sunshine will make you perspire and that can spoil your appearance. Glitter and heavy make-up should be used at night. Heavy make-up goes with Indian traditional attire while simple make-up is right for casual western clothes. Food and fun Puja enjoyment is incomplete without food. Just forget mom’s advice “Ekdom phuchka khabena” and Bairer khabar beshi kheona”. So eat whatever you wish, whenever you wish. For phuchka to ice-cream, ghugni to pastries, egg-rolls, to chowmein, anything can be ideal as a Puja treat. It does not matter whether you are hungry or not. If only you want to, then grab any fast food of your choice and finish it as soon as possible - otherwise you will not be able taste the other delicacy. But remember one thing; too much of anything is bad. If you keep on eating outside food regularly for these five days without any control Maa Durga cannot save you from tummy troubles.Now as for fun, these five days are just for fun and anything you do will make you happy. Just do not sit down with your books as that is really bad (Bookworms, Ma Durga will be angry if you study these days and you may forget all you have studied!) Put your books away, (but do not lose them) and go out to enjoy the days you have waited throughout the year. Go pandal-hopping and admire as many Pratimas as possible; sit in your own para pandal and indulge in what is famous as ‘Bengali adda,’ So enjoy a super cool Puja this year, enjoy each and every moment!
Coordinator, Bidhannagar Municipal School
source: the statesman
Durga Puja Kolkata West Bengal Durga Puja