55/100. A Kolkata day with summer sunshine, monsoon showers and autumn light as well means that it’s the start of the festival season. The air has begun to smell different and we in Bengal know just what that means.

And even as I smile indulgently at the younger lot in office discussing their Pujo shopping in minute detail – down to new nail paint, by the way – I feel that pull, too. Of Pujo Pujo gondho… That Pujo Pujo smell. Symptoms of a classic case of Pujo madness.

So, out came one of my festive sarees. A Kanchipuram cotton with a red border along which zari peacocks strut. Accessorised with gold-toned silver-and-coloured-glass jewellery from Amrapali and hair twist-tied in a bun, it was a pretty classic festive look. Which again had the youngsters flocking around to ask from where I had bought the saree. Sorry I was to disappoint them but this is not a Kolkata buy. Or a recent one. This was bought – along with about 20 others – from Chickpet, Bangalore way back in 2003. The 20 other cotton lovelies – all in the most beautiful combinations – were gifted away, but this gorgeous, black beauty stayed with me. She has not been worn too often – her dramatic beauty is not easily draped.

But, today was somehow the right day for wearing the saree. And I have a feeling that thos month leading up to Pujo will see many more festive sarees being worn. Just like that. ?