Celebration Carnival: A Thrilling Spectacle

The festivals and rituals in India are deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric and are passed down from one generation to the next. Families and communities play a crucial role in preserving and transmitting these traditions. 

Festive look

Books play a crucial role in passing on the legacy of rituals and celebrations from one generation to the next.  When an author sets a story against the backdrop of an  festival, it adds a layer of cultural richness to the narrative. It allows readers to immerse themselves in the festivities, traditions, and customs, providing a vivid and authentic portrayal of the cultural landscape. This not only captures the reader’s interest but also serves as a gateway to understanding the cultural nuances associated with the festival.

Although there are many books written at the backdrop of festivals, I liked the duology of the carnival series by Sameer kumar, I had  read long  back.

The Murder Before the Carnival    Murder After Carnival

The story is set in Kolkata during the last day of the Durga Puja, with devotees gathered to witness the idol immersion. What happens next is that when two idols of the Durga Maa are immersed inside the water, there is one idol floating atop, and a boy by chance takes a selfie and finds out that there is a lifeless corpse that is embedded inside one of the idols. This gives chill waves to all the people gathered there. What happens next forms the story.

The Chief Minister, pledging to resolve the case in 48 hours, faced a potential betrayal of her own principles—or did she? With the impending West Bengal state assembly election looming in 60 hours, the atmosphere of democratic festivities heightened. The discovery of a lifeless corpse inside a Durga Puja idol added a chilling twist. Aahana, an independent psychologist, found herself isolated on the case, entrusted by higher authorities due to the internal cover-up of the murder. The depth to which she would delve to unearth the magnitude’s purpose rested solely on her own decisions.

The detailed information about the intricate process of the idol creation  along  vivid descriptions of the Durga Puja in the book were so immersive that I felt as though I had personally witnessed the event, creating a lifelike experience within the pages.The immersion of the Durga idol, particularly the moment when the corpse emerges, was depicted so vividly in the book that it evoked a heart-wrenching reaction, intensifying the emotional impact of the narrative.

The story’s suspense, skillfully maintained until the end, left everyone in anticipation, defying any attempts at guessing the outcome. The genuine and intriguing twists and turns captured the audience’s attention, creating eager anticipation for the awaited sequel.

The characters are aptly positioned and justified, with no loose ends. The sequel adeptly addresses unanswered questions from the prequel in an engaging manner. The book unfolds with unexpected twists, adding an element of surprise that keeps readers on their toes. The well-planned and executed climax leaves a lasting impression, providing a sense of satisfaction for those who have read the book. Overall a book that gives a thrilling experience ….

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘BookishCafeBloghop2024’ hosted by  Rakhi  (https://outsetbooks.com/) and Samata Dey Bose (https://www.indiacafe24.com)