Red Road is all set for the grand Durga Puja carnival on October 8, just over a month after the West Bengal government organised a mega rally to felicitate a delegate from Unesco, which has bestowed a cultural heritage tag on the festival.
Around 99 Durga Puja organisers, who were declared winners of the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman 2022, have been working round-the-clock to showcase their idols for Saturday’s big-ticket event.
Following a meeting with the winners, Kolkata Police have laid down strict rules for the rally while Kolkata Traffic Police has imposed certain restrictions on the traffic movement for the gala show.
Police rules
Each committee is allowed to bring in three tableaus and the maximum height of the idol (while on the trailer) should not be more than 16 feet to avoid collision with electric and telephone wires. However, clubs with taller idols can take alternate routes. “Each puja committee will have around three minutes to showcase their exhibit. All participants must reach Red Road by 11am on Saturday,” said a senior officer of Kolkata Police, adding that the carnival would start at 4pm.
Hectic preparations
Soon after the Dashami rituals, the puja organisers got busy with the carnival preparations. Debasish Kumar, main organiser of Tridhara Sammilani, said they were decorating three tableaus for the occasion. “One will have the idol with some pandal decorations while another would be themed on 75 years of Independence. We have also prepared a dance performance based on our theme song,” Kumar said.
Samaj Sebi Sangha, on the other hand, will have one tableau with the idol. “Our members will perform,” said Arijit Maitra, an organiser.
Almost all clubs have allocated up to Rs 3 lakh from their Puja kitty for the carnival which will be used for decorating the tableau, hiring artists etc. “A portion of the pandal décor may be used to deck up the tableau but most of the decorations are being made freshly,” said Sujata Gupta, treasurer of Babubagan Club, which is hiring three tableaus.
The organisers of the participating puja committees will have separate performances and the club members have been rehearsing day and night for the past one week. Actor-dancer Devlina Kumar’s troupe will perform with the tableaus of Tridhara Sammilani and she is excited to make her parar club proud. “This performance is important not only because the CM will be present, but also that the entire world will be watching us tomorrow,” said Devlina.
Brakes on traffic
According to Kolkata Traffic Police’s circular, Red Road, Kidderpore Road, Lover Lane, Queens Way, Esplanade Ramp and Plassey Gate Road will be closed between 2pm and 11pm on Saturday. On the other hand, vehicle movement on Mayo Road (west-bound) will be restricted as and when necessary. “Besides, goods vehicles will be restricted within the city after 3pm on Saturday,” said a police officer.