The tradition and culture associated with Bijoya Dashami during Durga Puja is fast fading into oblivion, given the fast pace of life of people who live separately by giving up the joint family system, according to the principal of Siliguri College, Sujit Ghosh.

Addressing a gathering of a cultural organisation, named Sampriti, to celebrate Bijoya Sammelani at Icchebari in Siliguri on Sunday evening, Mr Ghosh delved into the past and recalled the Bijoya culture-the paying of respect to seniors, the tradition of offering homemade sweets, and “tactful collection” of coconut-made sweets named Naru and other items in Bengali culture.

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“During my childhood, I used to visit several houses to pay respect to elderly members, especially Jyathaima, and get pockets full of goodies made especially for Bijoya Dashami. I used to carry them in my pant pockets almost every year. Those memorable days will never return,” he said.

He also pointed out that the tradition of Sabar Utsav is now followed in a different form with DJ music during immersion.

Siliguri College Governing Body president Jayanta Kar, who runs Sampriti, echoed Mr Ghosh and lamented how the present generation has forgotten to respect their seniors.

“They have forgotten the word Kaaku, while they can only call them ‘Uncle and Aunty’,” said Mr Kar. “There’s no time to write a full word. They have written a new dictionary. Recently I got a message saying ‘TYSM.’ Failing to understand, I asked my wife what it was, and she told me it was an abbreviated form of ‘Thank You So Much,'” he added. The gathering of people there couldn’t agree more and they concluded that the culture we have lost may never come back, given the changing times and the advent of the social media and networking that have introduced a new way to convey best wishes and respects during occasions.

“These days, we have fun sending a picture of Rasogolla through Facebook or Whatsapp to friends and relatives and pass off as Bijayar Misti Mukh,” a participant said.

However, against the background of such a society and such life presently, a group of people associated with cultural activities under the banner of Sampriti celebrated Subho Bijoya by presenting songs and poetry and did their bit to keep the tradition alive.

As Sampriti members like Pritha Deb, Mahuya Dutta, Supti Sur Roy Sen, Taniya Mollick, Bandona Saha, Sudipta Sinha and Joyeeta Sen performed recitations, Mahuya Dutta, Madhumita Bose, Susweta Pal, Nina Singh and Sanhita Biswas Bagchi presented songs. Taniya also presented a dance.

Poet Sebanti read out a poem written by Poulomi, who passed away after suffering from cancer. Jinia also preferred to read out another classical literary part.

On the other hand, other personalities including Principal of Bagdogra College Subhasis Mitra presented their views, while Dr Tapan Chattopadhyay recited a poem of Kazi Nazrul and sang a Tagore song even in the German language. Lastly, it was an eight-year-old boy, Upangshu Rakshit’s turn, who mesmerized the gathering with his nice recitation.