The AB Block pandal this year will be shaped like a boat and the artwork inside will depict the legend of Manasamangal Kavya. The theme was announced at the block’s khuti puja, that was held on Snanyatra, a bathing ritual celebrated 16 days before Rathyatra.
“We wanted Sujitda (minister and MLA Sujit Bose) to preside over our puja but he gets busy after Rathyatra and it’s difficult for him to find time. So we decided to hold the ceremony in advance this time,” said secretary of AB Block Gopal Dutta. Councillor Ratna Bhaumik was also present. The idol this year will be a tradition alone by Sanatan Pal and the theme, by Bibhas Mukherjee, will be folklore.
“Even if children today know about The Ramayana and The Mahabharata, how much do they know about other aspects of our culture? Durga puja can be used as a platform to educate visitors about our heritage,” Mukherjee said. The pandal will be shaped like a boat, that is central to the story of Manasamangal Kavya. Behula’s journey and endeavour to bring her deceased husband back to life forms the theme of the artwork inside.
“Weare using paintings and copper wires that will be bent to create visuals,” promised Mukherjee. The other aspects of the puja have returned to pre-Covid levels. “Covid is now history and everything has gone back to pre-pandemic times. The last few years our budget had taken a hit but this time sponsors are sanguine. We are working on a budget of Rs 15 lakh this time,” the secretary said.
Minister and local MLA Sujit Bose (fourth from right) at the khuti puja being performed in AB Block Sourced by The Telegraph
AC Block
Khuti puja marks the unofficial start to puja preparations and the feeling of festivities. This is why AC Block held their khuti puja even before Rathyatra this year. “We held our puja on Snanyatra and residents immediately began planning for Puja programmes. Rehearsals for plays have started,” said Tapesh Majumdar, convenor of the pandal, idol and immersion committees of AC Block’s puja.
Incidentally, the theme for Durgapuja at AC Block last year was Rathyatra and the pandal was built like a chariot. This year the pandal will resemble a bonedi bari. The theme was announced at the khuti puja that was presided over by minister and MLA Sujit Bose and councillor RatnaBhaumik. Along with the architecture of bonedi baris, their history will be revisited at the puja pandal too.
“We are taking help from The Asiatic Society to source information on figures like Chhatu Babu-Latu Babu and Debendranath Tagore, who lived in such mansions. Their history will be written and showcased on the walls inside the pandal,” said Majumdar. Not just the start of the puja, the committee has special plans for the final ritual too.
“On the day of the immersion this year, we have decided to invite a kirtan group to tour the block with the procession,” he said. The budget of the puja is around Rs 10 lakh.