AE (Part 1)

AE (Part 1), one of the biggest draws every October, will be showcasing nature’s revenge this Puja. The theme was unveiled at their khuti puja that also saw a number of other attractions.

Residents had put up dance items to music composed by Tagore and Nazrul and doctors as well as students who cleared the Board examinations this year were felicitated. “I’ve been living in this neighbourhood for years but till today didn’t realise we have 30 doctors amongst us, including a few fresh pass-outs,” said president of the block committee Prabal De.

The venue was done up artistically, with traditional palm leaf fans, idols of Jagannath, Balaram, and Subhadra, and a small paintless idol of Durga on display. Among chief guests were MLA and minister Sujit Bose, mayor Krishna Chakraborty and councilor Tulsi Sinha Roy. There were also stalls set up, with a limited amount of free phuchkas and dosas on offer.

But the big mystery was the theme of the Durga puja itself and artistes Partha and Sidhartha Ghosh explained it. “The more civilization inches forward, the more we seem to exploit Nature, but she takes her revenge,” said Partha. “We shall depict a south Indian folklore of a deity who challenges man as he tries to destroy her forests and animals.”

Visually, the pandal will remind one of the 2022 Kannada hit Kantara, that was also made on a similar theme of protecting wildlife. “The look and colour tone of the pandal will be rich — even loud — like in this film,” Partha said.

This will be the fifth year of the artiste duo designing the AE (Part I) pandal. “It isn’t overnight that our block has achieved such goodwill. We have been working at it for years,” added De.

HB Block

They are the living heartbeat of Durga puja, yet after October we all but forget about them. So at HB Block this year the theme of the puja is dhakis.

“We have conjured up an imaginary dhak player named Paran Dhaki and will be showcasing his life — his village, hut, fields that he works in…” said Anagh Bhattacharya (Papan), secretary of HB Block Residents Association.

Besides felicitating the dhakis who play at the pandal this year, the committee shall also build a hut for them at the pandal. “They won’t have to rest away in the community hall but can do so right next to the goddess,” smiled Bhattacharya. The pandal will be the creation of artiste Prabir Saha.

Residents missed Goutam Halder, National Award-winning director and HB Block resident, who passed away last November. This was shortly after arranging a high profile visit by actress Vidya Balan to the block’s puja inauguration.

“We are missing Goutam kaku dearly. His daughter Raipurna is part of the puja committee,” Bhattacharya said. MLA and minister Sujit Bose and councilor Ranjan Poddar had come for the ceremony too.

CD Block

With just two years to go before its golden jubilee puja, the CD Block committee has gone into overdrive. “Our budget has jumped from about Rs 16 lakh last year to more than Rs 30 lakh this year,” said Sharmishtha Ghosh, president of Central Durgotsab Committee after their khuti puja. “The pandal alone will be built at Rs 15 lakh as opposed to only Rs 6 lakh last time.”

The theme would be “perspective” and how people tend to judge others from their outer looks. “We shall focus on concepts like body shaming, where an obese woman or an excessively thin man often has to bear criticism from society,” said Hirak Das, who is executing the theme and also designing the idol.

There will be lights from Chandernagore and thematic music to create an ambience. “Our community lunch is always looked forward to by residents and this time, we have abolished the coupon system. Meals will b served free to 1,200 people,” Ghosh added.