Mona Biswarupa |Artist

And nature declares the arrival of the Mother 🌺🙏🏽
Shubh Navratri to everyone celebrating.
Shefali, Parijaat, Har-Shingaar, Shiuli or Ganga-Shiuli is a flower many of us associate Autumn and Durga Puja with. The fragrance of Puja that the air adorns this time of the year perhaps owes a lot to this flower. As a kid I was mesmerized by the intense scent of this flower but never got a chance to see the tree in full bloom as it only flowers in the night and by morning the tiny and delicate flowers fall from their branches creating a floral carpet on the ground.
Last year, after almost twenty long years, I visited home during Durga Puja and had a good fortune of seeing our Parijaat tree ,planted by my father, in its full glory. In pale moonlight these white blooms were glistening like snowflakes under a lamppost .Next day morning I was absolutely delighted and equally sad to see the flowers fallen from the branches and scattered on the ground. With a desire to freeze that moment I took my phone and started taking pictures and videos. When i turned around, I saw my father quietly standing on the veranda and smiling .Ganga-Shiuli is my father’s favorite flower that appeared many times in his poems and songs. I had the privilege of painting the cover of one of his poetry books called ’Ganga-Shiuli Priya Mora’. That morning his smile had a sense of contentment in it. I think he was happy to see his love for these flowers in my eyes. Little did I know it is the last time my dad, the flowers and me were sharing a quiet moment together… little did I know it is the last time I was meeting my father in person.
Bapa’s poetry inspired me to paint. Now his memory cheers me up and inspires me to create. Every time I see the smiling faces of Ganga-Shiuli flowers, i am reminded of that reassuring smile of my father that morning…I am reminded of the Sukoon in that smile…
Happy Durga Puja to you and your loved ones🙏🏽 #durga #mother #autumn #memories
[ Sukoon, memories, Pitrpaksh, tarpan, remembrance, father, mother, ancestors, Durga, Durga Puja, Navratri, Shefali flowers, Mona Biswarupa ]