An album containing works of over 30 painters on Goddess Durga, a dokra statue of the goddess, rosogollas and sandesh are some of the items puja organisers hope to gift Eric Falt, director of the Unesco cluster office in Delhi, on September 1.
In April, over 50 painters from across West Bengal had participated in a camp organised by the Forum for Durgostav to celebrate the inclusion of Durga Puja on Unesco’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Bimal Kundu, Sanatan Dinda, Subrata Gangopadhyay, Bhabotosh Sutar and Gouranga Kuila were among those who painted on sheets of paper measuring 1.5ftX2ft.
“We will compile these artworks into an album and hand it to the Unesco’s representative while conveying our gratitude for the inclusion,” Saswata Basu, the Forum’s general secretary, told The Telegraph.
“Apart from that, we plan to gift West Bengal’s mishti and an uttoriyo in keeping with the essence of this part of India.”
The forum is an umbrella organisation of over 300 Durga pujas.
Around 200 puja committees are set to participate in the September 1 rally to celebrate the inclusion of Bengal’s biggest festival on the Unesco list.
“We have decided to hire buses to bring representatives of the puja committees from different zones, including north, south, south-east and central. The vehicles will be kept parked near the Ganga Sagar maidan to take the members back after the event,” said Kajal Sarkar of Bosepukur Sitalamandir Puja Committee.
At least five puja committees have decided to include Chhau performers in their groups, while several others have readied teams of dhakis who will participate in the event.
Women will blow conch shells as they walk, forum members said.