JAMAI SHASTHI OF BENGAL

Srinivasan: - Hey look, Hemanta, this is not your father’s company that you will apply for casual leaves anytime. Just one month back, you took 10 casual leaves for your marriage and honeymoon and now you have again applied for 5 casual leaves. I understand that for last 1.5 years, you have not taken any casual leave, but that does not necessarily mean that you will keep on applying for these leaves, after your marriage.

Hemanta: - Sir, please approve it this time. Actually, I need to attend the ritual of ‘Jamai Shasthi’. Please, Sir. After these casual leaves, I will not apply for any leave for next 9 months, unless there is any emergency.

Srinivasan: - Ok, ok, let me think over it. Just finish the assignment first. I want the report to be ready within 3 PM today. Then, we will discuss about it.

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Srinivasan: - Uff, sometimes, I wonder, why these youngsters get married too early in their life.

Arindam: - Hey Srinivasan, what happened, boss? You are looking disturbed.

Srinivasan: - Don’t ask me, Arindam. Already, the new clients have started giving more pressure to us and moreover, the management trainee, who works under me, is applying for casual leaves. By the way, you are also Bengali, right?

Arindam: - Yeah, of course, I am a Bengali. Why? What happened?

Srinivasan: - What is this ‘Jamai Shasthi’? Actually, Hemanta, who works under me, wants the casual leave to attend this ritual?

Arindam: - Ha ha ha…oho, I am becoming nostalgic now. You know what! In our college days, whenever we used to see a girl with huge Silicon Valley, we used to pass the comment, ‘Uff, babah re babah…Jaaa Maaai…’ he he…

Srinivasan: - What is Jamai, after all?

Arindam: - Arrey, Srinivasan, just go and ask this question to Amitabh Bacchan, Rahul Mahajan and Mansur Ali Pataudi. They are all the Jamais of Bengal. In Bengali culture, a Son-in-Law is termed as ‘Jamai’. Jamai Shasthi is a ritual, where the parents of the bride take special care of their son-in-law. The first ‘Jamai Shasthi’ is always very special. Maybe, that is why, Hemanta, who have got married recently, does not want to miss the opportunity. On the day of Jamai Shasthi, the mother of bride will cook good dishes. Sometimes, the sister-in-laws of the groom also cook food to keep their Jeejaji happy. On this special day, a son-in-law of Bengal gets the best treatment of his life. He feels himself as if he is just next to God. But, remember; only the 1^st Jamai Shasthi is the special one. Later on, the charm of Jamai Shasthi fades away. The food items are just too good.

Srinivasan: - Wow, really is it so? What foods are prepared during Jamai Shasthi for the Son-in-law of Bengal?

Arindam: - Uff, I will feel hungry now. By pronouncing the name of those Bengali dishes only, my saliva will start secreting rapidly. They always serve the food in a big ‘Kaanshaar Thala’ with lots of bowls on its side. The food items are Luchi, Cholar Daal, Aloor Dum, Mutter Paneer, Ichorer Torkaari (Jackfruit curry), Plain Rice, Deemer Dalna (Masala Egg Curry), Doi Hilsha, Fried Koi fish, Chingri Malai Curry, Fried Rice, Sujir Halua, Kheerer Sandesh, Misti Doi, Chaaler Payesh, Paantua and Rasogolla.

Srinivasan: - Oops, you should have told about this ritual before my marriage. Then, I would have married a sweet Bengali girl to enjoy the “JAMAI SHASTHI OF BENGAL”. I will surely approve the casual leaves of Hemanta.