What: adda52.com online poker presents The Telegraph Puja Premier League powered by Subhas Bose Institute of Hotel Management and co-powered by Bazaar Kolkata.
Where: Behala Nutan Dal
The Theme: Behala Nutan Dal that celebrates its 57th year has a very thoughtful theme — ‘Aasroy’, which means ‘shelter’. The idea behind this theme is eroding human values, absence of harmonious co-existence among different communities of the society, catastrophes like the Covid-19 pandemic, power-driven war between nations and others, and the search for profound joy and peace in the face of it all in the arms of Goddess Durga. Depicting this wide theme, the pandal makers used recycled products like bulbs, jute, stone chips and broken bricks from dilapidated houses, umbrellas and strips of cane. All of these and more came together to form a shelter guarded by the powerful Goddess.
Organiser speak: “The world is up against challenging times. We human beings are facing one problem after the other like the war and Covid-19, which took so many lives. So amid these calamities, we need the presence of someone smiling, embracing us, protecting us with an umbrella atop of us, providing us our much-needed ‘aasroy’ that is shelter of Goddess Durga, the universal mother. It took approximately four months to build this pandal by artist Ayan Saha,” said the convenor of Behala Nutan Dal.
Looking resplendent in a pink Benarasi, actor Trina Saha poses with the pandal artist Ayan Saha in front of Behala Nutan Dal’s artistic idol.
Rooting for the club is: Trina Saha. “I think after two years of the pandemic people’s excitement has doubled this year. It’s so wonderful to watch the whole city with different paras getting ready for the biggest festival of the state. Coming here and watching this beautiful dance performance reminded me of my childhood days when
I used to rehearse for months and performed at my para during Durga pujo. I loved how Mousumi Ghosh recited so wonderfully and how these talented kids gracefully presented this dance-drama. The best part I liked about this pandal is the lightning and the way Maa Durga’s idol looks at us. It’s like she’s blessing us! This pandal gets a 10/10 from me.
Activities: The evening kicked off in a reflective mood with the members engaging in discussion on the effects of the deadly pandemic. Moods changed soon as young talents showcased their acumen in poetry recitation and classical singing that was enjoyed by all present that evening.
Sayan Chakraborty from SBIHM and Trina hand over a token of appreciation to the club’s secretary, Doot Kumar Mondal.
The gorgeous actor couldn’t resist the charm of this tiny tot and took her in her arms to the delight of the women of the locality.
Sweta Banerjee receives an appreciation award for scoring 98.5 per cent in class XII.
Prasanta Karmakar receives an appreciation award for his excellent dance performance from Sayan Chakraborty of SBIHM and Trina.
A fabulous dance drama performed by Bumba Karmakar, Koushik Das, Sweta Mukherjee, Sudipta Das, Manisha Adhikari, Aritrika Das, Trisha Dutta and Bonani Mukherjee to the Mahishasur Mardini song and Behala Nutan Dal’s theme song Aasroy filled hearts with joy.
Pictures: Pabitra Das