Several major Puja organisers in Kolkata have decided to rope in artists to deck up their pandals with intricate folk themes and also help them financially to tide over the crisis following the COVID pandemic.
Behala 11 Palli organisers, for instance, have themed their pandal on the Bahurupi culture.
“While we gained insight about the art from our photographer friends and also from a report in The Telegraph last year, we also learnt that following the pandemic, most Bahurupis had quit the profession and had migrated to the city,” said Pradip Ghosh, an organiser of 11 Palli.
Banerjee Para Palli Unnayan Samiti organisers have decided to use the leaf art extensively. While this art form may appear young as a genre, in many ways it does fit in with other artistic customs exclusive to China.
The leaf art form may appear young as a genre, in many ways it does fit in with other artistic customs exclusive to China. Photograph: Banerjee Para Palli Unnayan Samiti
“We want to portray the fine craft of cutting and painting leaves at our pandal,” said Bidesh Das, an organiser.
Taltala Sarbojonin and Barisha Sabuj Sathi club are decorating their pandals with traditional mats from Midnapore and the Sarguja art from Chhattisgarh.
While plastic mats have given the traditional Bengali mat or shitolpati a run for their money leaving several artists without employment, “We have hired several such families to decorate our pandal. We wish to promote the eco-friendly mats and spread awareness of the perils of plastic and its harmful impact on the environment,” said Manab Saha, joint secretary of Taltala Sarbojanin.
Barisha Sabuj Sathi aims to popularise the art of making clay puppets. Photograph: Barisha Sabuj Sathi
The art of making clay puppets, stuffed with hay, had evolved from Sarguja village in Chattisgarh. Since not many know about it, we have decided to popularise the same,” said Sraboni Chanda from Barisha Sabuj Sathi.
Financial Assistance
Besides employing the artists to revive rural themes, the organisers of Behala 11 Palli have also earmarked some amount for the families of these hapless workers.
“Like chhau and baul, we want to popularize these art forms. We have already credited some cash to them and are planning to do so in future too,” said Ghosh.
