What: Seagram’s Imperial Blue Packaged Drinking Water presents The Telegraph Puja Premier League powered by Indian Institute of Hotel Management
Where: Thakurpukur State Bank Park Sarbojanin
The theme: Thakurpukur State Bank Park Sarbojanin stepped into its 53rd year with the theme ‘Elem Notun Deshe’, which translates to “we have arrived in a new country”. The theme revolves around the concept of liberty of mankind from the barbed wires of restrictions. Bird, wind and light are the chief elements which constitute the design of the pandal and are symbolic of the freedom that humans crave but are unable to achieve. The theme is conceptualised by Shib Shankar Das and has been put together with over four months of hard work and passion.
Organiser speak: “We started work on making the pandal four months ago. Our theme in our 53rd year is ‘Elem Notun Deshe’. We are in search of a place where people will be as free as a bird or like the wind. If we notice birds, light and wind, these three things cannot be obstructed by the barbed wires that separate nations. They never need a passport to travel. We are in search of such a nation, that’s our notun desh. The design of our Durga idol has been conceptualised by well-known artist Ramananda Bandyopadhyay. The concept has been implemented by Shib Shankar Das. We started off as a small pujo but gradually with growing reach and love from our well-wishers, our celebration has gained in grandeur and popularity. We are now confident of being one of the top community Pujas of Calcutta. We have a footfall of more than one lakh per day and expect it to rise every year,” said Ajay Majumder, secretary, Thakurpukur State Bank Park Sarbojanin.
Rooting for the club is: Sauraseni Maitra. “In my childhood, we always used to reserve a separate day for the pandals of Behala-Thakurpukur. My parents and I used to start our tour with Thakurpukur SB Park Puja and then go on to cover the other pandals nearby. For the past five years, I have been visiting SB Park’s pujo frequently for reasons related to work. I feel honoured to be a part of The Telegraph Puja Premier League this time. Being able to represent SB Park is an even greater pleasure. The theme is really interesting. You can easily spot this pandal even from a distance because of its uniqueness. Like every year, they have gone all out in terms of creativity and style. And as always, they have come up with a new concept and its execution lives up to our expectations. The Durga idol is bright and beautiful.”
Activities: The evening started with the tunes of Bajlo tomar alor benu sung by Ruby Ghosh, a member of the neighbourhood, reminding everyone of how Mahalaya initiates the essence of Durga Puja. It was followed by Akansha Guha’s Gouri elo, which she sang accompanied by the beats of the dhaak. The members of the club then invited Sauraseni on stage where she shared her experiences of pandal-hopping during childhood. She was felicitated by the club secretary Ajay Majumder and the representatives of Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Jayee Basu and Sujit Mitra. This was followed by a fun adda session wherein couples from the neighbourhood joined in to share anecdotes from their lives and how being associated with SB Park has created a sense of connection among them all. It was followed by a choreographic presentation of the popular ode to Goddess Durga, Ayi giri Nandini by members of the para. The representation of the asur-badh (slaying of the Mahisasura) on the stage stunned everyone. Sauraseni was all praises for the concept of the pandal and performances and she promised to visit the pandal again next year.
(Clockwise from left) A fun adda with eight couples from the neighbourhood was the chief attraction of the evening.
Fierce and powerful defined the performance by men and women of the neighbourhood to Ayi giri Nandini. The dance presentation portrayed the battle between Maa Durga and Mahishasur
Sauraseni was felicitated by the secretary of the club Ajay Majumder with a bamboo plant, sweets and an uttoriyo
Akansha Guha’s energetic performance of the folk song Gouri elo accompanied by the rhythm of the dhaak entertained the audience
(Top left) Ruby Ghosh inaugurated the evening’s programme with her soulful solo rendition of the popular Mahalaya song Bajlo tomar alor benu
(Bottom left) Sauraseni also accepted a token of appreciation from Sujit Mitra, the HOD of F&B services at Indian Institute of Hotel Management
(Right) HOD of hospital management, Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Jayee Basu presented a special gift to Sauraseni for lending support to Thakurpukur SB Park