Women power, Bengali heritage: NCR gears up for Durga Puja

Like every year, Durga Pujo committees across Delhi-NCR are gearing up to welcome Maa. With themes of cultural and social importance, committees hope to share vital messages with the pandal visitors, while they soak in the festivities. This year, themes of women empowerment and safety have emerged strongly, partly in response to the Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College incident.
‘Pujo is dedicated to women safety’
Prodip Ganguly, Secretary, Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Durga Puja Samiti, informs that Kali Mandir has dedicated this year’s Pujo to women safety. “Durga is a symbol of women power, and this year the focus is on women safety. The committee has invited participation from CR Park locals this year and Delhi-based artistes will be performing in the cultural programmes.”

Mayur Vihar Phase-1 Kali Bari members, who held protests against the Kolkata incident, have chosen the same theme, informs Mrinal Biswas, president, Milani Cultural and Welfare Association.
And, Arambagh Puja Samiti members have invited mothers staying in ashrams of Vrindavan and Varanasi to join their festivities. “This year's theme is Abandoned Mothers. We have invited mothers staying in the ashrams in Vrindavan and Varanasi to join us in Pujo festivities. The thought is to include them in the celebrations,” tells Abhijit Bose.

Highlighting Bengal’s culture and heritage
The community-forward festival is a celebration of Bengali culture. “For the 32nd Durga Pujo, the theme is Bonedi Bari – the traditional houses of Bengal royalty – which had intricate architectural designs. Artists from Bengal are creating a pandal that replicates the structure of Bonedi Baris, with big wooden windows, wooden cross beams on the ceiling and vintage lights,” says Ananya Chakroborty from Jalvayu Vihar Sanskritik Kalyan Samity, Sector 21 & 25 Noida. In their 25th year, CR Park Purbachal Durgapuja Samiti (E Block) is going with the theme Shobhabazar Rajbari, where Durgostab celebration started during the British era.

Meanwhile, Bangiya Parishad, Gurgaon has opted for Barno Parichoy, introduction to letters, as the theme for Pujo 2024. Malay Nandi, a member of the committee, says, “This year, the pandal will look like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s book Barnaparichay. The interior will resemble the pages of the book. Along with this, the pandal will also celebrate India’s T20 World Cup victory and will showcase a replica of the cup.”
Artisans from West Bengal are setting up the pandal in CR Park’s Mela Ground. “The interiors of the pandal will have red and yellow panels with traditional motifs designed using shells and mirrors,” shares Vivek Roy from Durga Puja Samiti of CR Park Mela Ground. The pandal will have a 15ft murti with chala.

Dakkhinayan Durga Pujo in M-Block, GK-2 is celebrating 25 years of Pujo and will be marking it by the theme ‘Diverse Folk Artforms of India’, with pandal walls, pillars and facade decorated with Madhubani, Maithili, warli, terracotta artworks, patachitra, gond artworks and puja bedi adorned with alpona motifs. Central Noida Pujo Committee which organises Pujo at Noida's Ved Van park in Sector-78 will have Ayodhya Ram Mandir as their theme and the pandal will highlight pottery work from Bengal.

Staying true to tradition
Samrat Banerjee, member of Durgotsab GK 2, says, “While we are awestruck by the display of creativity, engineering, innovation and pure art that comes out during Durga Pujo, our aim is to keep true to the traditions and culture that make us Bengali. The interpretation of Sankirtan will be visible in our cultural programmes, featuring artistes performing baul, Rabindra sangeet, qawwali, Bengali and Hindi songs. The programmes will be marked by Chhau, Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam and Odissi dance performances. The special attraction would be the hand painted Kalighat-style patachitra that will adorn the pandal, painted by members of the committee.”