Durga Puja 2022: #Walking in a pandal with puppies and mahatmas

The work is being written on the morning of Dashami, when the sky is blue in Kolkata, the air is fragrant, and the 10-armed goddess and her four children are ready to return to their abode after gracing the city – every nook and cranny of it. – For a period of four days which is known as Durga Puja. Now the wait for next year’s Durga Puja will start.

In fact, Durga Puja is not so much about the celebration, which ends too quickly, as much as the wait. It is a countdown to the year.

Now, why am I referring to the dashami, the blue sky and the smell of the wind Shiuli, This is an indication that this year Worship It’s over and nothing untoward has happened. It was feared that the festival might get wet due to heavy rains, but it did not happen. There were also fears that a new version of COVID-19 might knock on the doors of the city prematurely, but that didn’t happen either. Kolkata finally returned to itself.

celebration with message

So much so was his eagerness to celebrate after being forced to show restraint for two-and-a-half years that he chose to ignore controversies, something that doesn’t usually happen. on one pandal In the city, established by the Hindu Mahasabha, there appears to be a depiction of Mahatma Gandhi, the demon being slain by the goddess. But no one other than the media took notice. People were either too busy to celebrate or were determined not to let such pranks spoil the mood. The police came up with a creative solution. he ended it AsuraResembling Gandhi with thick hair and mustache.

Durga Puja is not so much about celebration as it is about waiting. This is a countdown to the whole year. photo credit: Arya Gupta

on one Worship In Bhabnipur the demon was shown as British but there is no problem here as this goddess has been killing whites Asura For over a century now. family holds Worship The tradition has been maintained.

Read also | Durga Puja is literary festival time in Bengal and this year is no different

while the well-known family Worship – many more than two centuries old – clinging to tradition, pandals The entire city witnessed an unprecedented influx of creativity for two years. Many sent powerful messages. One pandal Old Kolkata had a sanitary napkin vending stall and an enclosed area for lactating mothers. Another dedicated this year Worship Totally for pets. in the atlas club pandal In Shyambazar, only people who brought pets along were allowed near the idols. The aim was to encourage people to be kind to animals, especially stray dogs and puppies, which easily get crushed under speeding vehicles. right here Asura Was portrayed as a reckless biker. pandalNeedless to say, it attracted massive attention from dog lovers, who first saw their pets posing with the goddess.

Pet Dogs at Atlas Club pandal in Shyambazar, Kolkata | photo credit: Debashish Bhaduri

a worship for all

pandal Where I stood for a while despite the crowd, it was in the AK block of Salt Lake, where the message was not to burden the child with studies. Visitors were greeted by a depiction of a sad-looking schoolboy carrying a bag larger than himself. It was equally sad to see the kids posing with the artwork.

Feather pandal in AK Block, Salt Lake | photo credit: Vishwanath Ghosh

Here came pictures of AR Rahman, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Zakir Hussain, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjeev Kapoor and many more; People who were household names in India, but not because of their academic achievements. In addition, where the idols were kept, there were more establishments depicting children burdened with textbooks. Elaborate artwork like this to convey a simple yet strong message: Take it easy. This can happen only in Kolkata.

Establishments showing children burdened with textbooks pandal in AK Block, Salt Lake | photo credit: Vishwanath Ghosh

Amidst the celebrations, COVID-19 was forgotten. No hard memory of social distancing or use of masks. Another thing that was quickly forgotten, even though this year’s celebrations were expected to add an extra dose of joy: UNESCO’s recognition of Durga Puja as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. In fact, what difference does this so-called belief make to a Bengali, who considers Durga Puja to be great. It is not the recognition that makes the festival great.

Read | Understanding Durga Puja Economy

However, this year was the talk of the town pandal In Sreebhumi, not far from the airport. It was a replica of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The crowd was so great that during the first few days of its opening, those who landed in Kolkata were stuck on the road for several hours. Church built to host Durga Puja? This can happen only in Kolkata.

St. Peter’s Basilica built in Sreebhumi Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata | photo credit: Nivedita Ganguly

“I have VIP passes to the Vatican pandalwould you like to go?” a friend asked me last evening.

“No, thanks,” I replied immediately.

Then it happened to me that I didn’t even think of leaving pandal Where people stood in line for hours to see the bus. last time i went pandal– With great enthusiasm was in October 2019, when COVID was not heard and when I was almost 49 years old. This October, I am almost 52 years old. The festivities may begin again, but my bones are weak and patience is thin.

Inside St Peter’s Basilica pandal In Sribhumi | photo credit: Nivedita Ganguly

a Dhaki Artists in Purbachal | photo credit: Arya Gupta

A huge temple complex was built at BJ Block, Salt Lake. photo credit: Arya Gupta

Devotees and tourists alike welcomed the ‘fearless daughter’ near Shyambazar in North Kolkata. photo credit: Arya Gupta

Kolkata : 04/10/2022 : A pandal Decorated with recycled glass near Lake Town. photo credit: KR Deepak

Jatiya Seva Dal at the pandal in Kolkata. photo credit: Debashish Bhaduri

In Kumartuli, a potter’s settlement in northern Kolkata, where the goddess lives. photo credit: Arya Gupta

Drama is at every turn in the streets of Kumartuli. photo credit: Arya Gupta

, Arya Gupta is a confirmed Kolkata and an ecofreak who deals in street photography, portrait painting and aquascaping.,