The puja adda at Maddox Square, an intrinsic part of the Ballygunge puja that pandal-hoppers look forward to, is set to be back this year after two years of Covid-induced curbs that discouraged gatherings.
With the Covid numbers in the state steadily declining and life returning to normal, the organisers of the Ballygunge Durga Puja Samity have started preparing the ground at Maddox Square to welcome add lovers.
Truckloads of loose soil are being brought in to level the ground, on one part of which will stand a 5,000sq ft pandal. Construction of the pandal has started and the organisers said the buzz, which was missing for the last two years, has returned. So have some of the big-ticket sponsors.
“We are delighted that night-long adda sessions will be back this year,” said Amalendu Sarkar, one of the organisers. “This year we will inaugurate our puja on Chaturthi (September 29).”
Senior officers at Lalbazar said the state government had not yet issued any specific directives about curbs during the Puja this year.
“We have given a provisional nod for adda at Maddox Square. If the government issues specific directions on gatherings in public places, the organisers will be told to adhere to them. Violators will find it difficult getting permission next time,” an officer said.
For decades the south Kolkata puja, which began in 1935, has remained a favourite adda zone for Puja revellers, some of whom would drop in from suburbs just to be part of the lounging sessions beginning Sashthi.
Veterans recall how Maddox Square would have nightlong cultural programmes and lakhs of visitors would pour in and out of the park. “A cultural programme will be held on Mahalaya, the day the idols will be brought to the pandal,” said Subhashish Adak, of the organising committee. “We don’t believe in theme-based puja celebrations. Just that this time the pandal will be done up with patachitras.”
With footfall set to return to the popular puja address on the back of adda, big sponsors, too, have started showing interest to be associated with the puja once again.
“Enquiries for stalls and banners have been quite encouraging so far this time,” said Ranajit Chakraborty, one of the organisers. “We hope to get back the space we had left behind in 2019.”
If things work out according to the plan, stalls selling food will be hemming the adda zone. “Like previous years we will distribute bhog to visitors every day,” Chakraborty said. “We want to see the happy faces queuing up in front of the Goddess once again.”
“Some of our friends from Chennai and Bengaluru have decided to catch up at Maddox Square. We are keeping fingers crossed,” said Anindita Bagchi, a second-year college student.
