Durga Puja themes in Kolkata have gone way beyond a religious festival and turned into a festival of art and culture. For years now, Durga Puja themes have been taking up social causes and this year, a Belgachia-based club in northeast Kolkata has decided to dedicate their puja to recent Manipur rape victims.
On Sunday, Belgachia Sadharon Durgotsav Committee performed their khunti puja to initiate the pandal decoration for their 76th year’s puja. “So we have worshipped three mothers during the ritual – Ma Durga, Bharat Mata and all those abuse victims from India in connection with the recent Manipur incident,” said Jaydeep Saha, one of the puja organisers.
With an Indian flag, a map, and some representational photos of abuse victims, the ritual was completed. Apart from that, a minute’s silence was observed for those victims.
Belgachia Sadharon Durgotsav Committee members touch the auspicious pole during the ‘khunti’ puja on Sunday Belgachia Sadharon Durgotsav Committee
According to Saha, worshipping Ma Durga was as important for them as worshipping the country and also all those abuse victims. “Through our Puja, we want to send a message of solidarity to all those women and we pray to the goddess against such recurrences,” Saha added.
The puja theme unveiled on Sunday also portrayed the faceoff between Ma Durga and a human.