Imran Zaki’s Ramazan and Eid parties have been a grand celebration of harmony with people from all walks of life and communities, and are rather well known in Kolkata’s social circles. This year, Zaki will be missing his much-loved festival, Durga Puja, as he’s travelling to Kyrgyzstan.
My Kolkata connected with the social entrepreneur from Kolkata to talk about the multicultural aspect of Durga Puja.
For Zaki, Puja plans usually involve meeting friends and their families. During his childhood, Zaki remembers going to the melas near his house in Kapalitola Lane, Bowbazar. “As a child I would go to the melas for the chaat and the jhulas. We used to meet friends and enjoyed the puja days,” he says. That aspect of Puja celebrations has still not changed. “I usually try to stay in the city because so many of our childhood friends from school and college who are settled abroad come back to Kolkata. This is the best time to come together and celebrate. If I am in Kolkata, my family has an invitation almost every day to visit friends’ houses where they celebrate Durga Puja with some great food. For me, this is the time to meet friends and have a nice time with our families over some lovely food.”
According to Zaki, Durga Puja in Kolkata is unique in the way it harmonises diverse communities, and is related to a religion. Rather, it is a celebration of togetherness. “People from all different backgrounds, belonging to different strata of the society come together to celebrate.”
‘Theme Pujas convey meaningful messages through art,’ says Zaki Ashim Paul
He has also been on a committee to judge Kolkata Puja pandals, and while touring Kolkata’s pandals to judge them on the basis of innovation and thoughtfulness, Zaki is always left spellbound. “The theme pujas convey various meaningful messages through art and showcase serious issues in small and creative ways. I feel people are more conscious about the environment and the society now, and puja committees do a fantastic job to convey the awareness about climate, education, empowerment, diversity etc. among common people. So. this aspect of the pujas are beyond religious belief,” says Zaki.
While his own popular iftar and
Eid parties have been a harmonious affair with people of various communities
coming together, Zaki feels that it is the need of the hour for people to be
united and celebrate each other’s festivals. “Kolkata celebrates Durga Puja in
a way no other place does. It is incredible how everyone takes part in the
celebrations. That is the spirit of the city where people know how to respect
each other and co-exist,” he signs off.
