A community on Nalin Sarkar Street in Hatibagan has come together to bring alive the world of Sukumar Ray and his nonsense verse. Not just the Hatibagan Nabinpally puja pandal, most houses in the vicinity have been painted to take visitors back to the pages of Abol Tabol.
Giving them the Judge’s Choice award were 40 smitten schoolchildren, of varied age groups. They kept raving about their favourite piece of literature on the second day of Camellia presents TTIS Choto Chokhe Boro Pujo (CCBP) powered by Fridaay, Foodie Folks and Calcutta Retro on October 20.
The students had gone judging all over Kolkata on Day I, to select five winners for Best Puja, Best Idol, Best Pandal, Best Innovative Puja and Judges Choice awards. On Day II, they were joined by two celebrity guests, actors Ridhi Sen and Rwitobroto Mukherjee.
Friends and co-actors in the 2015 film Open Tee Bioscope, Ridhi and Rwitobroto were glad to be back together with CCPB after 2015.
“We came as part of the Open Tee Bioscope team in 2015. Since then I have been part of this event many times,” said Rwitobroto.
A puja enthusiast as well, Ridhi said he missed travelling in a bus with the young judges and having a blast.
The students were excited to be treated like royalty.
“On Day I, organisers were making way for us, offering us refreshing drinks and making us feel special because we were the judges. I have never felt so great during Durga Puja,” said Debotri Majumder of Class IX, Delhi Public School, Megacity.
Debmallya Dutta of Class VII, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Joka, had waited for a year to be a judge at this event. “I am so glad that my dream came true. I got to see some of the best puja of the city,” he said.
The first stop for the young judges and the celebrity guests was Tala Barowari Durgotsav Samity, which was declared the Best Puja. The theme paid tribute to Abanindranath Tagore, from representing a detailed family tree to some of his paintings. “Research on the theme took us six-seven months,” said Argha Dasgupta, a club member.
“I loved the way the organisers have depicted Abanindranath’s signature,” said Rwitobroto, after giving the award.
The next stop was Kumartuli Sarbojonin Durgotsab, which got the Best Pandal award for its depiction of patachitra among other artwork. The idol was also built as part of the artwork and the songs of the artisans, that they hum while at work, was played in the background. “This puja is my personal favourite,” said Harshita Agarwal of Class X, Purushottam Bhagchandka Academic School.
The third stop, at Jagat Mukherjee Park, saw the students and the celebrities making some music with dhak beats as they awarded the puja for Best Idol. The theme paid tribute to Fulkumari Das and many others who would model for art students. “It seems like we had entered a museum rather than a pandal,” said Ridhi, as an afterthought.
The actors and students were all left spellbound at the Hatibagan stop. “Our club has members of various age groups. Around 50 junior members have as much
voice as the seniors,” said Shrutima Das, a member of the club that themed its puja on Abol Tabol. “It’s good to see a masterpiece in Bengali literature being celebrated this way,” said Zeba Munshi of Class XI, Auxilium Convent School.
Bosepukur Sitala Mandir Durgotsav Committee got the Best Innovative Puja Award.
“Being a judge, even for a day, is a huge responsibility and also a privilege. Everyone wants to hold that position of power at least once. I am glad many children got to realise the dream through this event,” said N.R. Datta, chairman of the Camellia Group.