This Durga Puja, Woodlands Hospital along with Hope Kolkata Foundation brought festive cheer to 30 underprivileged girls of two NGO homes on October 8 on Dwitiya. It was the hospital’s ‘Khudeder Pujo Safar’ (Puja Trip of the Tiny Tots) initiative to bring joy to the little Durgas.
The day trip was flagged off from the hospital premises in Alipore, where nurses presented each child with a sash, celebrating their remarkable fortitude and grit. Rupak Barua, managing director and CEO of Woodlands, assured the NGO of continuing medical support going forward. The kids, in an earnest gesture, gifted him a handmade ‘Thank You’ card. The girls went around the city visiting theme puja pandals in a bus that was turned into a dance floor with disco lights.
Girl children from Hope Kolkata Foundation present a Thank You card to Mr Rupak Barua, MD & CEO, Woodlands before embarking on a pandal hopping trip around Kolkata
The first stop was at Tridhara in south Kolkata. The theme ‘Angan’, depicting the courtyard of an artist’s dreams, with huge, actual paintings and lots of colours and artistry, thrilled the children.
Next, the children inaugurated the 12-ft Durga idol made of dark chocolate at Holiday Inn, New Town. Marvelling at the intricate designs and immense creativity on display, their eyes went wide in wonder.
The last stop of the day was at Ahiritola Sarbojanin which opened for the kids a window to the unknown world of how north Kolkata looked in the days gone by, with letterboxes, hand-drawn posters and barges sailing on the Ganga.
Last stop was Ahiritola Sarbojanin
Speaking about the initiative, Rupak Barua, managing director & CEO of Woodlands Hospital, said: “At Woodlands Hospital, we believe in nurturing not just health but hope. We are honoured to share the joy of Durga Puja with these remarkable girls, reminding them that they are valued and cherished members of our community. It is our mission to uplift and empower all sections of society, and this endeavour is a beautiful reminder of the strength and resilience that Maa Durga stands for and is present within us all.”