A home for individuals with special needs will organise Durga Puja on its premises for the first time this year so the residents do not miss out on the fun of the autumnal festivity.
“Every year we would take the residents to a puja pandal for a couple of hours. The day, otherwise, would not be any different from any other day of the year,” said Niranjan Biswas, general secretary of Arogya Sandhan Residential Care Home for the Differently Abled.
The home is located about 4km from Sonarpur station. The residents are mostly those living with autism and cerebral palsy.
Biswas said Durga Puja at the home would keep the residents engaged on all four days.
“The residents of the home are entitled to fun and this Puja is entirely for them. The food they enjoy will be offered as bhog to the goddess,” said Biswas.
The home, which opened in 2017, has residents aged between 18 and 50 years.
The idea behind such a residential facility is to help parents with special kids.
“Those who stay here go home during the vacation, but return after a couple of days. For their parents, many of who are aged, it is difficult to take care of them,” said Amitava Dutta, joint secretary of Arogya Sandhan Residential Care Home.
The home has on its premises an inclusive school, a vocational training centre, a hospital and a home for senior citizens. “The residents do not live an isolated life here. But they live in an open environment,” said Biswas.
IIHM PUJA
The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) is celebrating Durga Puja on its Global Campus in Salt Lake for the first time. The puja, which was inaugurated on Tuesday, demonstrates six of the 17 UN sustainable development goals — zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, good health and well-being, responsible consumption and production, reduced inequalities. “We are using the biggest platform to celebrate the goals as we celebrate Durga Puja,” said Suborno Bose, founder and chief mentor, IIHM. Earlier in the day, actors Subhashree Ganguly and Parambrata Chattopadhyay visited the puja.