Shubho Bijoya: Traditions of Togetherness in a Digital Age - GetBengal Story

Last year's Dashami, Ananya Chatterjee, a 75 years old lady from North Kolkata, stood at the door of her house with a box of sweets, expecting her grandchildren to dart into her home, as they used to, laughing and chattering. But, this year, there were no little feet rushing into her home, and no excited voices calling out, “Dida, Dida!” just her phone buzzing with family members sending her “Shubho Bijoya” messages. She smiled, of course—but it was incomplete without any of the warmth of those personal greetings such as hugs, laughter, and shared sweets.

In Bengal, festivals are more than decorations or food. Durga Puja can be likened to a daughter ‘returning home’ after months of being away. Families will clean their homes, new clothes will be bought, and sweets will be prepared. The atmosphere is full of happiness, excitement, and togetherness. The enjoyment of sharing the occasion together, the lit twinkle of someone’s face upon receiving sweets, the small moments—that’s what the festival is all about.

Bijoya greetings immediately after Dashami have been one of the sweetest parts of the celebration. People go to relatives and friends' houses and bring sweets and gifts, exchange hugs, and pranam elders. Sometimes these gestures are small expressions of love and respect. Bijoya greetings remind both families and communities of what holds them together.

However, we live in different times. Nowadays, a large number of young people just send "Shubho Bijoya" messages over WhatsApp or post greetings on social media instead of seeing someone in person. A text is efficient, it is easy and it is convenient. The suggestion being that it is sufficient. However, a text cannot substitute for the warm closeness in being together. The joy of a hug, the glimmer in the eye of the person you have seen after so long another, or the simplicity of sharing the homemade sandesh from hand to hand to show just how much you cared to and wanted to see each other.

It's easy to understand how it is happening. Life is not easy, it's busy, distances are long and holidays are short, and technology makes it easier to stay connected then ever before! With this convenience, the spirit of the tradition is slowly disappearing. Bijoya is more than a saying; it is a gesture, a memory, a connection. It has kept Bengali families closely bonded for generations.

There is an easy way to sustain it. Messages are great, but they can never replace visiting someone, sharing sweets, or murmuring "Shubho Bijoya" to one another in person! Traditions stay alive only if they are lived, and shared with others, and not just typed on a screen. 

For Ananya and many others, the real joy of this occasion, Bijoya, comes from the connection. Technology may simplify and ease your life, but it cannot replicate those fulfilling moments of being with family and friends, laughing, and showing those little gestures of love. It is worth the little extra expense at this Bijoya to be with the people who mean the most to you. Because some experiences, such as Bijoya are experiences to be felt, not just viewed on a screen.