Baishakhi: 2014

w w w . p u j a r i . o r g | f a c e b o o k . c o m / p u j a r i i n c

A S o c i o C u l t u r a l O r g a n i z a t i o n i n A t l a n t a MOTTO OF PUJARI Pujaris mission is to serve individuals and families in the communities in Georgia and neighboring states.

Drawing strengths from our diversity, resources, and experience, we promote cultural events and are advocates for continuous learning and development

of our next generation.

P U J A R I WELCOMES YOUwww.pujari.o

rg

SOCIO ACTIVITIES OF PUJARIOpen Hand helps people prevent or better

manage chronic diseases through Comprehensive Nutrition Care, which combines home delivered meals and nutrition education

as a means to reinforce the connection between informed food choices and improved

quality of life. PARABAAS - a non prot to help West Bengal

kids.

CULTURAL EVENTS 20141. SARASWATI PUJA - 02.08.2014

2. BAISAKHI - 04.19.2014

3. PICNIC - DATE TO BE DECIDED

4. DURGA PUJA - 10.03.2014, 10.04.2014, 10.05.2014

5. LAKSHMI PUJA - 10.11.2014

6. NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION - 12.31.2014

JOIN THE PUJARI FAMILY

1. A Launching Platform to exhibit and get recognition of your talents.

2. Access to closely tied social networking community.

3. For Members: Free Entry (including meals) to Pujari events throughout the year including: Saraswati Puja, Baisakhi, Picnic, Durga Puja (Celebrations, 3 Day Meals and International Guest Artists at subsidized rate), Lakshmi Puja and New Years Eve Celebration (Full Buet Dinner Party at a subsidized rate for Pujari

Members)

CONTACT USCall us at: 678.242.9578

Email us at: pr@pujari.org

Baisakhi:2014

DISCLAIMER: No parts of this publication may be reproduced without explicit written permission from

the publisher. All rights reserved. The works submitted are to be held in good faith until reason is found

to suggest otherwise.

CREDITS: Editor Jaba Chaudhuri

Contributing Editor Sutapa Das

Contributing Editor Dola Roy

Cover Design/Page Layout/Collage

Jaba Chaudhuri

Baisakhi:2014

President: Ashok Das

Chairperson: Pabitra Bhattacharya

VP, Logistics: Satya Mukhopadhyay

VP, Cultural: Anindya Mukhopadhyay

VP, Public Relations: Saikat Das

Secretary Operations: Prosenjit Dutta

VP, Revenue Generation: Sudipta Samanta

VP, Publication: Jaba Chaudhuri

VP, Finance: Sharmila Roy

Food & Services Secretary: Sanjay Chatterjee

Webmaster, AV Media marketing: Saikat Das

Non Profit Events: Sidhartha Ghosh & Dola Roy

Decoration Secretary: Aradhana Bhattacharya

Puja Secretary: Bulbul Banik

New Member Welcome Secretary: Atashi Mukherjee &

Mohana Mitra Das

,

From the Presidents Desk,

Dear Pujari Members, It gives me immense pleasure to present the first publication on behalf of Pujari EC, 2014. This online magazine has been put together by our talented members, their families in celebration of the spirit of Baisakhi , the official start of Bengali New Year . Pujari has carried on this important cultural tradition of Bengal, year after year , paying rich tributes to the literary giants & revered sons of Bengal , Rabindranath Tagore & Kazi Najrul Islam, - this year will be no different & the celebration spirits will be soaring high with wonderful performances lined up in the evening of April 19th.. I am very hopeful that youll find this on-line publication very enjoyable with a real flavor of Baisakhi rekindling all those memories back home. I would also like to invite you to come , celebrate with us , have fun & authentic Bengali food & spend an enjoyable evening filled with top class cultural performances from our brilliant performing members. See you in Berkmar Highschool on 19th April in the afternoon. Happy New Year !! Sincerely,

Ashok Das

From the Chairman of Board of Directors

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Dear Pujari Patrons, I would start by wishing you all Shubho Nabobarsho and by extending a warm welcome to all new members, to our Pujari family. After a successful Saraswati Puja we are looking forward to many more exciting upcoming Pujari events, such as Bengali New year, Pujari picnic, Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja and New Years celebrations. Pujari is a Not for profit social organization and our mission is to serve individuals and families in the community, draw strength from our diversity, resources and experience, promote cultural events and also serve as advocates of continuous learning and development for the next generation. Keeping in line with this mission statement, I would like to request each and every one of you to come forward and participate actively in any kind of role to help us achieve our objectives better. This will help us target common priorities and provide an increase coherence between the members, Executive committee and the Board of Directions. This is our community and we as a team need to contribute towards the success of the organization by offering something back to it. At the same time, I would urge you to give us your honest feedback to add a new perspective to our vision and also provide us with an insight into how we can make things better at Pujari events or engage in doing something new or doing things differently, to take it to the next level. I would also like to see the younger generation playing a more active role. It was incredible to see them give their creativity spirit wings during Saraswati Puja 2014, where majority of the cultural events were directed by them. We want this to happen more often; to cultivate leadership qualities among our younger members that will help them grow up as more confident individuals and leaders in their own rights. Big Kudos to all Pujari youngsters, you are, our future... Every organization, needs funds to run successfully, and we would appeal to all our members to come forward and help in fund generation, in any way they can.. Be it corporate or individual sponsorships, Pujari matching funds program,selling tickets or collection of ads. Additionally; I would like to congratulate the new EC for doing an outstanding job and also thank all our patrons and advertisers and partners such as Berkmar High School, for helping us progress with our plans. In conclusion, Pujari is a family,we are here at all times to provide our patrons with continuous support and are confident that with our concerted combined efforts, the road to the future will be bright and prosperous to all. On behalf of entire Pujari Board of Directors and Executive Committee 2014, I would like to say thanks to all of you. Sincerely, Pabitra Bhattacharya Chairman Pujari BOD 2014

Editorial

Baisakhi:2014

With another April filled with morning dewdrops and

gentle rays of sunlight comes the beginning of another year, and now is the time

for us to join hands once more in celebration! Today when we step out into the

world, we can start afresh - a new year means a clean slate, and with a clean

slate comes the confidence that we can always better ourselves and our world.

In this era of hustle and bustle, finding time to solely focus on oneself can be

difficult, especially when the concept of constant interconnectedness has come

to govern our lives. However, introspection and self-improvement are not

unattainable things: quite honestly, a sense of inner peace can begin with

something as simple as a deep breath! You owe it to yourself and to those

around you to spare more than a few seconds in the pursuit of your own

happiness. With the advent of the new year, convince yourself of the liberating

truth: you are worth it.

We are a generation of wanderers and warriors. We seek opportunity and

then we fight for it - how else would we have landed here, in the land where

dreams come true? As Indians, we have made our mark in each and every part

of the globe, and as Bengalis, we have valiantly retained our firm grasp on our

culture, heritage, and legacies. As the years pass, above all else, we must strive

to maintain our hold on the source of our pride. By working together in our

community through Pujari and keeping the spark of enthusiasm and integrity

alive, we are laying down the path for future generations to uphold our ideals

even in a nation thousands and thousands of miles away from our homeland. A

new day means a new dawn, and with each sunrise, we are faced with the

chance to do something great...all you have to do is keep breathing.

Happy New Year!

Jaba Chaudhuri, Editor, Anjali 2014

--

Baisakhi:2014

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By: Shashank Banerjea, Atlanta To start out, I must admit being a science fiction aficionado and big

astronomy buff. The reality is that I swoon at Isaac Asimov books and can

sit through re-runs of Star Trek and Cosmos to no end. Now, reading so far, one must wonder

what in the world that has got to with, being at peace or even writing an article in a community

magazine such as Pujari.

There in where lies the fault in the question itself, why ask what in the world? The real

question should be why in the UNIVERSE or in fact the way science is moving, it is at the verge

proving existence of multiple universes, so WHY in the MULTIVERSE? Okay, I will cut to the

chase and I am talking about is ones ability to see the BIGGER picture.

To see the bigger picture, in fact biggest of them all, look up into the night sky and stare at the

billions and trillions of stars, just like our ancestors have done for years.

Doing that, I find matters of conflicts on Earth so trivial. Be it Kashmir conflict or problem in the

Middle East and there are so many of them there. Or something closer to home like going up

the career ladder, office politics, domestic strife or optimally managing the investment

portfolio.

One would think, it does not matter as they are more immediate things to worry about and not

to take importance of living for the moment. But things can change in a flash.

The flash like the one that appeared on the early morning sky of Chelyabinsk in Russia, on

February 15, 2013 as a near earth asteroid entered Earths atmosphere, undetected and

unexpectedly. Scientists have theorized something like that happened millions of years ending

the reign of the mighty dinosaurs and ushering in age of the mammals.

And today most intelligent descendants of the mammals fight it among themselves for every

conceivable and unconceivable reasons.

To think, all those reasons would be meaningless if on that cold day of February 2013, a bigger

asteroid of a different constitution had entered earths atmosphere from a different angle.

I shudder to even think if that had happened, humanity would not have a chance to answer the

ultimate question, if we were really alone in the universe.

So what is this got to about finding peace? Well when you are having a not so great day, put

down by elements not in your control, stare at the sky and ask yourself in the cosmic scale of

things does it really matter? The answer probably is NO, but we do have a chance to make

things better.

Baisakhi:2014

On the flip side, very rash action, not matter how small will have immediate and cosmic

implication. Think about it, what were chances that life would have evolved on planet Earth. It

all starts out with being of the right size too big would mean becoming one of the gas giants

like Jupiter or Neptune and too small would mean not having enough gravity to hold on the

atmosphere. Being the just right distance from the sun, so as to have water in its liquid form. All

that could have changed if a slight deviation occurred as it was being formed, millions of years

ago. Again bigger picture?

So, on the occasion of Bengali New Year's Day, I pray that Ma Saraswati gives us all ability and

knowledge to see the bigger picture, as we go along with our lives.

__________________________

Baisakhi:2014

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Baisakhi:2014

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____________________________________________________

By: Urvashi Gadi, Atlanta

Baisakhi:2014

When you look at yourself in the

mirror, what so you see? Do see a

happy, content person or do you see at

least 5 things wrong? We are so

conditioned to comply with the

current standard of beauty that we

dont understand that we cannot look like others. We need to start seeing

how beautiful we really are.

The biggest factor holding us back

from achieving our goals is, simply

and sadly, our own selves.

Happy and content people usually

smile a lot, no matter how they look.

They are more confident and others

are drawn to the happy personality.

Let us face it, personality lasts, looks

don't necessarily.

So what we can do to be happy and

content?

- Simplify: Simplify your life to create more space in your day,

making it possible to reflect on

your life.

- Let go: It would be much simpler and more enjoyable if

we learned to just release

certain limitations. Making

lives less complicated and

living a positive life creates a

happier world around you.

- Connect with others: The

more self-

absorbed you

are, the more your world closes

in, and the less realistic you

become, all of which produces

a vicious circle. Invest your

time and energy into quality

relationships.

- Eat healthy and exercise: Healthy clean eating leads to

good health which in turn is

associated with improved

mood. Burning calories through

sustained, sweat-inducing

activity can reduce symptoms

of depression about as

effectively as antidepressants.

- Pay it forward: Believe in the goodness of life. Every person

has a choice to either lift others

up or bring them down. Be kind

to others and it will infuse a

positive energy in you making

you happy and attractive.

Apply these simple rules in your life

and meet the most attractive and

glorious YOU.

~~~~

Baisakhi:2014

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Baisakhi:2014

PHOTO: Soumik Mukherjee

Picture Location: Eagle Lake (Acadia National Park), Bar Harbor, Maine.

Exif aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/60 s, focal length 16mm.

Camera: Nikon D700, Lens Nikkor 16-35mm.

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Photo: Samaresh Mukhopadhyay

Location: Destin, Florida.

Camera: Nikon D7100, 70-200 VRII, exif. F22, 1/20s, ISO 200

Baisakhi:2014

Photo: Swapan Chaudhuri

Location: Marietta, GA

Camera: Canon 1DX. Canon 24-70mm 2.8L at 24mm, f22 1/60 sec., ISO

100.

Baisakhi:2014

Baisakhi:2014

Five years old Shayna's art-work...

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Baisakhi:2014

Mehek Saha, 7, got the first prize for this artwork!

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8 Years old

Baisakhi:2014

Siya Saha, 10, got

first prize in Gwinnett County

for this artwork!

Baisakhi:2014

Indian bride and groom....

A craft-work

By: Suporna Chaudhuri

Made out of construction paper, net fabrics and crystals.

Baisakhi:2014

By: Sabarno Dutta

Age: 9

Black is the color of darkness.

Black is as dark as hard stones.

Blach is a crow's dark black feather.

Black is a new crayon with smoothness.

Black tastes like bitter dark chocolate chips.

Black smells like burnt turkey on Thanksgiving.

Black feels like a wet pitch-black water puddle.

Black looks like dark bitter chocolate.

Black sounds like loud distant thunder.

Black makes me look at a beautiful black swan.

Black is my favorite color.

SPRING

By: Aratrika Kar, 10 Yrs.

Spring is when the first beam of sunlight creeps through your

windows.

When you hear the chirps of the birds calling for you down the

street.

Spring is when the bright, red and yellow flowers overflow from

the ground, filling your heart with a new sensation.

When the sky seems to call you with its outstretched arms,

hoping that you will be its friend.

Spring is the time to run outside and feel the wetness of the

cool grass brush along your face.

To inhale the rose scents whishing through the air, following

you wherever you go.

Spring is the beginning of rainbows bursting through the air,

filling the whole sky, leaving you utterly mesmerized.

The first rainfall, drizzling your face with tiny raindrops, so cool!

Springs when your feet hit the water, splashing yourself with a

new personality.

When the crickets start their first chirp, at the dawn of the

sunrise.

Spring is when you run down the street looking for the pot of

gold, at the end of the rainbow.

When you get lost, but then find yourself showered in a heap of

hugs and kisses.

Spring is the time when you get your first sniff of the nature

outside.

Hearing the natural beauties of the wonders outside, leaving

you awed, with your eyes wide.

Spring is when you see beautiful faces, popping out from

behind burrows.

When school is coming closer to an end.

Spring is when you come closer to nature, taking in the

surroundings around you.

When you feel that its time to splash in the rain, with a few

other friends.

Spring is when you first touch the ground, feeling the softness

of soil beneath your fingers.

When you smell the beautiful aroma of cut grass and fresh

plants.

Spring is when you observe the shimmery, gray puddles

forming on the ground.

Families cramming into stores to buy raincoats for their

children.

Spring is when kids get excited to see the new colors of spring

every year.

And jump into the puddles and make their clothes muddy.

Spring is when you see the magical colors the butterflies have

on their soft, elegant, wings.

When different animals greet you in the midst of the day, hoping

to find a new friend.

Spring is a time of celebration, happiness, and lots and lots of love.

Spring is a time we will never forget, whether itll be living in

our hearts or in our souls.

Baisakhi:2014

Wanda the Weeping Willow Tree

Urjoshi Kar

So, hey, Im Wanda, and as you may know (or may not

know), I am a weeping willow tree. Oh, and NO, I do NOT

cry all the time! Like they say, dont judge a book by its

cover. Yeah people, dont judge ME by my NAME!!!!

So, anyways, one day out of all the boring day of my

life, everything was about to change. I heard some

rustling as if tiny twigs or the brown leaves were being

snapped and crunched under feet. Then, all of a sudden,

a little girl came into view. The second she caught sight

of me, she came running straight at me as fast as a

cheetah. My branches and long, vine-like leaves made a

shade for her as she ran round and round and.(well you

get the point) my trunk.

The little girl started

climbing up my trunk until

she was really high in the

air. She sat on the branch

close to her, swinging her

legs back and forth. This

gave me a chance to

examine her correctly. She

Baisakhi:2014

had tiny pink lips and extra white teeth. Her hair was

auburn with pink hairclips on it. She had red-brown

freckles on the upper part of her cheek. Her eyes were as

blue as the sky, bright and curious. Then, a

man looked up at me. This should be perfect to cut

up and use. Lets go, Savannah, he said. No, Daddy,

wait!!! Thats-, her words were cut off as her father took

her hand and left the forest. My branches trembled with

fear.

The next morning, Savannahs father came to

the forest with an axe. Savannah had come too. Her lips

trembled and then giant tears came streaming out her

eyes, dripping down her chubby cheek. I squeezed my

eyes shut. Her father slammed the axe onto my trunk.

Oh, the pain!!! It pained so much, I could not even

breathe! He slammed it once more. Once twice, three

times, four times..

Well, that is the story of my ancestor. He died when

that old, mean guy chopped him. Im one of the new

seedlings that Savannah planted. Her children play on me

every day. It makes me feel really proud. I want to be just

like my ancestor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Srija Sengupta~ Age:13

Baisakhi:2014

Tiny swirling feet ever so faintly embedded into the ground

Or big prints probably made with the boots of Paul Bunyan

Here and there and all around

They surround

Me

All have taken different paths

Neither of them resolved to be last

I hesitate

Should I?

Or not?

I look at the path in front of me

And at the path behind me

Take a deep breath

And press my foot into an empty space

No turning back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baisakhi:2014

Montego Bay: A Tourists Favorite City

By: Shayak Chaudhuri, Age: 14

Of all the cities in the Caribbean island of Jamaica, the best place

for tourists is Montego Bay. It is home to the greatest attractions either

historical or even natural. Speaking of Jamaica, we wisely planned to

travel there once! I really looked forward to see some beautiful artifacts

and the warm, thriving waters. There are tons of fascinating tourist

attractions that I love to research about. I am so excited to travel to this

amazing city filled with wonders and thrill. The blissful news for us is

that our hotel, Hilton Rose Hall and Spa, is our summer home.

One of my favorite attractions I would love to visit, despite my

sisters objection against it, is the Montego Bay Marine Park. It is a 15

acre sea park that is home to a variety of colorful fish thriving in the

warm waters. It is also a blue, underwater paradise for snorkelers like

me, because I love to swim in the water. Another attraction we visited is

the Martha Brae River. It is where you are on a bamboo raft that drifts

along the river. I enjoyed some refreshments, lunch, and some lagoon

spots for me to swim in. My 3rd

favorite attraction, Dunn River Falls, is a

spectacular waterfall near Ocho Rios, a city east of Montego Bay. Water

cascades 1000 feet down the naturally terraced steps. My sister and I

bathed in the cool, crystal-clear water. Later, we climbed up the slippery,

wet rocks to the peak of the falls. . There, my sister, mother, and I got a

few chills but more shrills from the falls. The greatest place that I ranked

as my absolute favorite is the Dolphin Cove. Special events and

interactions made this a #1 attraction. We rode on camels (yes, believe it

or not, there are camels at Dolphin Cove.), touched a friendly, female

stingray, played and swam with dolphins (they also kissed us.), and

Baisakhi:2014

viewed some men, dressed up as pirates, fighting against a nurse

shark. The best of the terrain trek was at a summit, (I honestly dont

know the name of it), that is a few meters from the beach of Jamaica.

But in the middle of a sky tram ride, it began to rain heavily. The color

of my shirt, which my dad bought in Negril, dripped right off! But it did

not cease our incredible fun. Through the cold rain, we rode on bobsleds

that were the rainforest roller coasters. Later on, when the rains receded,

we spent such a lively time, for we did zip lining through the canopy.

Initially, the lines are straight forward, but one of them went straight on

down! It was like a death fall, but fortunately there was someone to

catch us. After a while, we visited the Jamaica Swamp Safari and

Village. It is home to some birds, monkeys, and mainly alligators. We

touched some baby alligators and watched a short movie clip that

involved an actor who risked his life to walk across alligators safely.

Even though we spent most of our time in Montego Bay, we thought

wed take a few hours exploring Negril, a city southwest of Montego

Bay. There, at a sea side caf, my sister and I dove into the water from

rocky ledges at a few feet in height. Then we stopped at a souvenir shop.

Dad bought two tie-dye t-shirts (one of which I already mentioned),

Baisakhi:2014

Mom bought a few turtle models symbolizing Jamaica, and I bought a

black, stuffed capuchin and befriended a young Jamaican boy by the

name of Danny. Although I am presenting natural attractions (not

counting the souvenir shop in Negril), I also want to mention a few

historical attractions we visited. One attraction, which is not far from our

hotel, is called Rose Hall Great House. It is said that the spirit of a white

witch, Annie Palmer, haunts the Rose Great House. I felt a bit crept out

about her brutal death that occurred over two centuries ago. Another

historical landmark we toured is Fort Montego; there are the remains of

a British fort that was used to protect the once-called town of Montego

Bay from foreign disruptions at sea. But sadly, only today are a few

cannons that remain of Fort Montego. Because I also am quite interested

in history, these are the two places that are just right for me to explore

and learn about.

All of these are the attractions I would love to explore, visit and

even investigate. And I would also touch the items that I see in each of

these attractions and sometimes visualize that I was actually there during

the 18th

and 19th

centuries. Wouldnt you agree about having to visit

these spectacular, educating, and entertaining attractions of this cheerful

city that always lifts its head up from tourism?

Baisakhi:2014

Suraaj Samanta, Age: 13

Nowadays, technology development is fast, however people expect a lot more even though they don't realize it. Around 10 years ago, people thought that by this time there would be things like floating buildings and solar powered TVs. Even though technology has not lived up to the highest expectations of the people in the past, it has come a long way. Just 12 years ago, there wasn't anything called a smart phone. Everyone had flip phones and you were automatically cool if it had a camera. But, now, everyone has a smart-phone and they pretty much keep everything on it. Smart-phones, nowadays, contain everything that people use in their everyday life. Cars have also developed a lot over the years. Now, there are electric cars that don't need any gas. And also there are companies like Tesla Motors that are only making electric cars. This a huge improvement in transportation. Since, gas is starting to cost a lot of money, electric cars don't need to worry about gas anymore and also they dont have problems with air pollution. Another thing that has improved a lot is graphics. Graphics have developed in all sorts of visual things such as: Video Games, Movies, and Television Shows. Most people only watch these things in High Definition or Blu-Ray. Otherwise, the quality looks bad to the person watching the screen. Recently, Sony has come out with XBR 4K ULTRA HD TVs. It has better graphics than any other TV in the world. They used a whole new technology and they got the best out of it. There are many types of new technology, but a lot of them are unknown to the general public since they are usually way overpriced. Such as, now they have one flying car that was made by a company named Terraffugia. But they are not going to release it to the public until after a while. Technology has come a long way, however it has more than enough space for improvement. Everyone wishes the best for technology, and no matter what time period it is, people will always think that their technology is very up to date. Many companies are already trying to bring different types of technology to the market. Because different technology always attracts the public. Maybe in the future you might come to a Pujari event in a flying car. I look forward to seeing it:)

Baisakhi:2014

~ Suporna Chaudhuri, Atlanta

A storm has been raging on, and thunder and

lightning are battling fiercely in the sky. Rain cascades

from unforgiving, gray clouds and crashes to the ground. The streets are

empty. After a while, a figure is seen walking slowly down a path which is

flanked by majestic trees. The girl has her head bowed, and the rain seeps

through her flimsy dress. She seems to be impervious to the harsh pelting

of the drops and the chilling winds that occasionally blow past. On and on

she walks, her pace slow and steady. Her expression is listless, but her

posture is sagging with defeat and resignation. Her spirit has been broken.

Suddenly, she glances up to see a single red umbrella bobbing around in

the distance in front of her. It is a strange sight in the midst of the wet, dark

landscape. What surprises her even more is when the umbrella begins

moving towards her.

She stops in her walk, and realizes that a boy is holding the umbrella.

He is neither smiling nor frowning, and his glasses are misted over. He

grips his umbrella so tightly that his knuckles have actually gone white, and

his spine is rigid as he strides towards her with a sense of purpose in each

step. A vicious gale blows into the girl and the boy, but the boy is not

affected even though the girl shivers involuntarily. Her forlorn light brown

eyes meet his darker ones for a second before she bites her lip and looks

away. He stares straight into her face, memorizing every delicate line and

groove on her skin, before asking in a steady, deep voice, "Are you all

right?"

She opens her mouth to say something, hesitates, and then turns on

her heel to hide her quickly deteriorating resolve. Her throat and chest are

aching with the weight of all the things she wants to ask him, scream at

him, whisper to him. Each stinging raindrop that hits her skin is a slap of

reality. She is here, and he is here, she is weak, yet he is here, she is

leaving, but he is here, she has lost hope -

- but he is here.

Baisakhi:2014

It takes her a few seconds to realize that she no longer feels the rain,

and when she looks up, the sky has been taken over by a cheap, red fabric

spread thinly over crooked wires. She swivels around, ready to angrily

shout at him and declare that she doesnt need his charity, but when she

finds herself face to face with him, she forgets her original intentions. As he

grips the umbrella with one hand, he slowly lifts the other; it is an invitation

for an embrace, and for a moment, the girl imagines shoving him back and

braving the world by herself again. She does no such thing, however, and

instead rushes into his arms and begins to cry. The umbrella is tossed

aside as he holds her and lets her sob her heart out on his shoulder. They

are both thoroughly drenched, but by now, neither of them cares.

She buries her face in the smooth curve of his neck and murmurs, "I

thought you didn't care." He sighs, half exasperatedly and half sorrowfully,

"I've always cared. I just didn't know how to show it." Then she leans back

and looks into his eyes with her watery ones and whispers, "Is this it?" He

smiles down at her, his face aglow with love, warmth, and peace despite

the cold, and whispers back, "This is it."

And then, they become united in both heart and soul. The last we see

of them is a simple red umbrella dancing away into the darkness, gently

rising and falling with each step and breath of the lovers beneath it...a

single entity in the center of a world of falling rain and rising hopes.

************************************

Baisakhi:2014

Sounak Das, Atlanta

In a sense, sheet music is just notes on a page. It's a

written collection of symbols detailing pitch and

duration. Lyrics make their appearances for vocal scores. Occasionally, dynamics

will be notated, and if the editor of a piece is feeling generous, a tempo marking

might be denoted.

Sheet music is only a pale, two-dimensional representation of true music though.

Musicians are they who breathe life to the ephemeral sound. They practice, not

only to perform at a higher standard, but also in pursuit of endless self-

edification. They gather and collaborate to form something new, something

greater than the sum of the parts. Occasionally, they will decide a practice is

obsolete and cease to use it. Other times, they will perform a piece in different,

though essentially correct, ways.

The curious are all musicians. They all seek to take the knowledge given to them

and bring it to life. they seek to constantly improve themselves, they work with

others to make new things, and condemn that which is outdated.

They take the notes on the page, and they add their own colour. they understand

how to read what's in front of them, and to see it differently from their peers.

Sometimes, they have to adjust to blend with the orchestra, but during a cadenza

or solo, they put their own life into the piece.

I am a musician.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baisakhi:2014

Inspiration from the Winners and Losers

By: Puja Deb, Age: 15

Each Olympic Game gives us the opportunity to for a new inspiration.

We can be inspired by the spirit, determination, and hard work of the

Olympic athletes. Only very few of us are meant to be Olympic athletes. But

we can all use the inspiration of the athletes best qualities to live our own

dreams. Its inspiring to see athletes in the Olympics pushing themselves

physically as well as mentally. So many individuals are achieving their

personal bests and breaking records. Although I will never compete for a

gold medal, watching the Olympics inspires me to reach my goals. One thing

I really got from watching the athletes this year is how much they trained

prior to the contest. These athletes trained for YEARS. They never stopped

and always stayed dedicated to their goals. Even the athletes that did not

walk out with the medal kept on working with dedication and hard work to

keep reaching their goals. For myself, the Olympics inspired me many ways

like doing better and setting higher expectations for myself at school and

other curricular activities. Even when I failed or did something, I always

thought of the athletes that did not earn a medal. Even though they did not

achieve their goals, they still kept on going, trying hard for next time.

Olympic inspiration can really be used for anything. The Olympics are about

striving for excellence and working hard to do your absolute best.

Baisakhi:2014

Udisha Bhattacharyya, Age: 13

Once upon a time a beautiful girl was born with golden hair and perfect skin that shined like diamonds. This girl had but one flaw. Her eyes had no pupil; they were snow white. So thus, her discontented parents named her Frei, or empty in German. For her eyes were empty and incomplete. After Frei was born, the wise sage of the town declared that she would die at the age of twenty unless she find a blue dove feather. Then, the wise person also said that he would be able to do a magical spell which would turn the girls eyes blue and the dove feather white. As Frei grew up, no luck came for her in searching for this blue dove, until one day. It was one week before her twentieth birthday, and she was desperate. Frei walked every inch of the town, asking and begging every citizen (and animal) of where she could find a blue dove. Finally, in a dark alley, she met with a shady old man holding a cane.

Before the girl could ask anything, the man said with a raspy voice, I know where to find what you seek. How did he know? With a surprised look in her eye, Frei asked, How do you know where to find what I seek?

The man laughed, and replied, That isnt the correct question. Therefore I wont answer it. Then what was the correct question?

After about ten seconds of dead silence, Frei asked, Do you know where I can find the Blue Dove?

The man replied, Yes. No need to look far and wide. The Blue Dove will come when hes at your side. To the Tall Mountain you must go with your loved one. At that point, the game is already won. Before Frei could ask anything, he disappeared into thin air. Frei understood that she needed to go to the top of Tall Mountain, a mountain right outside town where no one has been able to reach the top before. Now she had to complete an impossible task, and bring a man who she fell in love with. There was no time to waste. At this point, she only had five days.

On the way to the mountain, she met with a man who was holding an apple.

Oh fair maiden, I love you so much that Id eat this apple for you! the first man said. Frei told him to go ahead and eat the apple. The man ate it and choked on the apple to his death. Although she was touched by the emotions of this poor innocent man, Frei knew she needed to move on.

Not that much longer, she crossed paths with yet another man who was holding a rope tied to a fox.

He said, Oh fair maiden, I love you so much that I will release this fox just for you! With that statement, he untied the rope from the foxs neck, and the fox ate the man alive. Although Frei wanted to help this man, she knew that she needed to move on.

The next man Frei saw was holding a knife. This wasnt going to be pleasant.

Baisakhi:2014

Oh fair maiden, I love you so much, but am not deserving of your love. Please take this knife and kill me. I beg you. The man pleaded, kneeling before Frei. She appeared surprised. For all the men before this one wanted to show off their skills in order to impress her. This was the only one who wasnt as self-centered. Immediately, Frei understood that this was the act of true love she needed.

Frei paused for a second and said, Why would I want to kill such a sweet person like you? You have shown much more bravery and unselfishness unlike any other men I've met before. Please be my husband, and go to the top of the mountain with me so that this curse may be lifted.

The man wore a huge smile on his face and told Frei not to worry. With but one whistle, he called a magic flying device (nowadays called an airplane) to fly them both to the top of the mountain. At the top, they met with the Blue Dove who was sitting on her nest throne.

Welcome. I see that youve come with a prince. Heres the feather that you have longed for. We doves have been everywhere and we know all. The dove plucked out the shiniest, prettiest, blue feather of all her feathers, and gave it to Frei. The Blue Dove quickly flew away before any questions could be asked.

Youre the prince?! Frei asked, sounding astonished.

Yes, sorry I couldnt tell you earlier. Those two men you met before were my two brothers. I do agree; they are rather selfish. And with that and no time wasted, they ran back to the town and had the wise person do her magical spell. In no time, Freis eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue ever seen. Because of this, Frei changed her name to Voll, or full; for she was not the incomplete girl from before with empty eyes. Voll married the prince and they lived (nearly) happily ever after.

***************

Baisakhi:2014

Baisakhi:2014

By: Bulbul Banik

Ingredients: FOR FISH

1 large Hilsha fish 2-3 medium sized Onion, chopped 4-5 Green Chili, chopped 2 tbsp Vinegar 10 cups Water Salt to taste 2-3 tbsp Butter 1 Egg, beaten 1 Potato, boiled 1 cup Bread Crumbs

FOR SAUCE

2 tbsp Butter 2-3 Green Chili 1 large Onion, sliced circularly Salt to taste 1/2 tsp Sugar 1 tbsp Tomato Sauce 1/2 tsp Mustard Paste 1 tsp Fish Sauce 1/2 cup Water 1 tbsp Corn Flour

FOR GARNISH

1 medium Cucumber, sliced circularly 2-3 Tomato, sliced circularly 2-3 Eggs, boiled 1 medium Carrot, sliced circularly 1/2 cup Sweet Peas 2 medium Potato, boiled

DIRECTIONS

1. Clean & wash the Hilsha fish first. 2. Fillet the fish from head to tail. Make sure to keep the bones. 3. Incorporate the water, onions, vinegar, green chili, fish, and fish bones (head &

everything) together. Bring to a boil for 10-15 minutes or until fish is cooked thoroughly.

Baisakhi:2014

4. Take out small bones from the Hilsha fish after boiling process is done. 5. In baking tray, first place the boiled head & spine bones of the fish onto the

tray. Then, place the boiled Hilsha fish over the skeleton. If all of the skeleton is not covered, cover the empty spaces with boiled, mashed potatoes.

6. Spread butter across the Hilsha fish. Then, beat an egg and pour over the fish. Cover the fish with bread crumbs.

7. Place fish into a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown.

8. For the sauce, incorporate tomato sauce, fish sauce, sugar, salt, mustard paste, and water into a bowl and mix.

9. In a separate bowl, mix 1 tbsp water with the corn flour and set aside for later. 10. On the stove, melt the butter and then saute the circular slices of onion &

green chili over medium heat. When onions become soft & opaque, add the sauce mix into the butter. Bring to a boil and then add corn flour mixture. Stir constantly.

11. Remove sauce from heat when it thickens. 12. Boil the sliced carrots, sliced potatoes, eggs & sweet peas together. Slice the

eggs, cucumber, and tomatoes. 13. Take out the Hilsha fish from the oven and immediately cover it with the sauce.

Then cover the fish with aluminum foil for 5-10 minutes. 14. Garnish the fish by placing sliced vegetables and eggs around the fish. 15. Enjoy!

Baisakhi:2014

Two recipes: Baisali Sant Kundu

1. Clean the prawns

2. Capsicum and onions diced

3. For pesto- (3/4 cloves of garlic,

one spoon tamarind pulp, 5/6 red

chili, hand full of besil, one tsp

honey, 50 grams roasted peanuts, 4

tbs of olive oil, salt to taste)....put all

the ingredients and make a smooth

paste and keep aside.

Now, heat up the

cooking pan. Put some olive oil and

saute onion and prawn, add

capsicum and saute for 1 more

minute. Now add the paste and toss.

Your Prawn Pesto is ready to serve!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ingredients:

Boiled eggs, sliced onions, ginger-

garlic paste, tomato puree, sesame

paste, salt to taste, pinch of sugar,

turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili,

garam masala powder, ghee, whole

garam masala and bay leaf.

How to cook: Put mustered oil in a

heated cooking pan. Fry the eggs

until they are golden brown. Keep

aside. In the same oil put bay leaf and

whole garam masala fry them till they

are light brown. Add all the spices,

salt and pinch of sugar in a bowl. Add

a little water and make paste. Put the

sliced onion in the pan and after a

while add the paste of spices and stir.

After 2 minutes add sesame paste in

it. You can add luke arm water in it

to make the thick gravy. Cover will lid

and cook for 3/4 minutes. In the end

sprinkle garam masala powder and 1

spoon of ghee. Now you curry is

ready. So, add the fried eggs and

serve.

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