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A kindred spirit and a special gesture of kindness

Piya Chakraborty’s must visit place during Durga Puja is Maddox Square, and it has a special reason

When it comes to her Durga Puja itinerary, there are two stops that Piya Chakraborty never misses. The first is Maddox Square — a pujo hotspot for everyone from eight to 80, a tradition that has thrived for generations. “People have told me I’ve outgrown it and that only young people go to Maddox Square, but I’ve never gotten out of the habit of visiting,” Piya chuckles, expressing her love for this iconic Kolkata spot during Durga Puja. While she makes it a point to stop by, Maddox Square now holds a special place in her heart for a different reason.

As the head of the Voices programme at the well-known NGO, Anjali, Piya, a human rights and mental health activist, takes residents of mental health hospitals on a pujo parikrama during one of the days of the festival. And Maddox Square is always on the itinerary. Piya, who works with people from all walks of life, makes it a point to sprinkle some joy during those special days when Maa is home — something to learn, for sure.

— Pooja Mitra