I visited the temple to offer prayers in memory of my niece, who unfortunately passed away on 23rd November!(বড়মার মন্দির!)

sduttaskitchen (80)adminFounder(Steem Rep)C-5050(Orca🐋)in Incredible India • 9 days ago

A poignant inscription is displayed on the front wall of the temple in Bengali:

“Religion may be personal, but God is for all.”

Today, I participated in prayers for my one and only niece, who tragically passed away on November 23rd.

While I have cousins who have children, I experienced the profound loss of my older sister's only daughter.

Today marks the fourteenth day since her passing, and I visited the temple for the first time, accompanied by two cousins and my nephew, who had sustained injuries in an accident in October.

I have previously shared detailed accounts of this situation; however, I often engage in dialogue with the Almighty, expressing my limitations by stating, “Please cease, as I can no longer endure any additional challenges in life.”
I am not inherently strong; the losses I have endured, along with my sister, have left us bereft of all those we held dear.

I prefer not to dwell further on this matter and will instead present this day as a journal entry to aid in diverting my thoughts.

I rose from bed at 5:50 AM and completed my household duties, as my cousin was scheduled to pick me up at 9:30 AM. I needed to finalize my chores, take a shower, perform my morning worship, and prepare myself for the day.

After reaching the temple, witnessed the queue

According to our rituals, we consume flattened rice with sweet curd after a period of thirteen days, during which we adhere to a vegan diet. Following my observance of the necessary rituals, we may resume consuming non-vegetarian food starting tomorrow.

Given our presence at the cremation ground, it is essential to adhere to these rituals according to Hindu traditions. As my niece belonged to the Brahmin community, specific cultural practices must be observed.

Personally, I tend to prioritize serving those in need rather than strictly adhering to ritualistic practices; however, the circumstances I am describing are challenging to articulate and difficult to accept.

Holy Ganges

Given that today is Saturday, the temple was quite crowded, as evidenced by the accompanying photographs. The queue was extensive, resulting in a wait of three hours and fifteen minutes before we could enter the temple.

During this interval, I procured all the essential items required for the worship of Maa Kali. Upon completing our worship, I observed that prasad was being distributed to the worshippers of Lord Kali.

However, due to the lengthy queue for the prasad, we decided to proceed with our lunch first.

We ordered a vegan thali, which consisted of steamed rice served with clarified butter, yellow lentils, fried potatoes, and a potato curry prepared with poppy seed paste, commonly known as aloo posto in West Bengal.

Additionally, we ordered Dhoka dalna, chutney, and papad. Unfortunately, I neglected to capture images of the cottage cheese curry we also ordered.

Around 3 PM, we began our lunch and subsequently embarked on our journey home. En route, we stopped at a well-known tea stall that is reputed for its tea. Regrettably, I found the tea less enjoyable than my preferred green tea.

In front of the tea stall, my nephew requested that I take some photographs for him, to which I gladly complied. Upon arriving home at approximately 5:45 PM, I refreshed myself and completed my evening worship.

I now take this opportunity to document my day.

It is universally acknowledged that nothing in life is permanent, and individuals must confront the challenges that arise.

However, I find myself lacking the strength to endure further losses in relationships, which I now recognize as my most valuable asset. Regrettably, my sister and I are left with no remaining familial support.

I find it difficult to accept this reality; therefore, I am actively seeking engagement in various tasks to redirect my focus.
In conclusion, I urge you to value your relationships; they are of utmost significance.