“Mother of mine you gave to me
All of my life to do as I please
I owe everything I have to you
Mother sweet Mother of mine.”

Seventeen-year-old Mili Agarwal’s voice rang out loud and clear on the lawns of the Ramee Guestline Hotel in Hosur, near Bangalore, expressing what was on the mind of every daughter gathered there that evening. Mili and her mother Niru were among the four mother-daughter duos from the east (Calcutta and its outskirts) who had been chosen by Tanishq for a special Mother’s Day event at their manufacturing unit in Hosur.

The four joined others from the west, north and south for a factory visit and party on the eve of Mother’s Day. “Every month we take some loyal customers from different regions on a visit of our manufacturing unit, to strengthen the bond. But usually we take couples. This is the first time that we have taken mother-daughters to celebrate Mother’s Day. Also, this is the first time that customers from different regions have come together,” explained Anirban Banerjee, regional business manager, south 2, Tanishq.

“I was a little nervous before I started, since I have never travelled without the men of the family. But at the airport when I met the others, all my nervousness was gone,” said Bhavana Doshi. She was there with her 22-year-old daughter Jinal, for whom the factory visit was the high point of the trip.

So well did the women bond over the two days that most were sad when they took the return flight. “I have made so many friends from Calcutta, so far away from the city. The best thing about this trip was that there were mostly all girls. Why should guys have all the fun?” laughed Udita Gupta. Her mother Seema, a Howrah resident, was all emotion when she said, “I have always been close to my daughter, but Tanishq has reminded us of the significance of this relationship.”

From shopping in Bangalore to seeing how jewellery is made at the unit in Hosur, the women had a fun-filled trip. On Saturday evening, the company organised a party for its privileged customers. Moms and daughters ganged up to compete in a variety of games, before the dance floor was thrown open. A few enthusiastic moms joined their daughters.

The girls also read out touching messages for their moms. “I have never celebrated Mother’s Day like this,” said Kharagpur resident Niru Agarwal, Mili’s mother. Agreed Simita Chatterjee, “It was definitely a special Mother’s Day. All of us are from different communities but we bonded so well.” Her 21-year-old daughter Tandrani liked “everything about the trip”. Simita’s elder daughter, 25-year-old Tapati, said, “My mom’s life had become very routine. She was restricted to the kitchen and looking after the family. This has been a welcome break for her, and one that I would not have managed to give her on my own, because I am too caught up in work and my own life.”

Back at the Calcutta airport on Sunday, Mother’s Day, the four women and their daughters were almost reluctant to let the dream trip end. “We will be in touch with each other, and we will forever remember these two days,” they chorused.

Poulomi Banerjee