AJ Block

After a slew of successful “theme pujas”, AJ Block is opting out of the bandwagon.

“All blocks are chasing themes so we’re going simple and traditional. Our focus will be on the idol, that is getting sculpted by Sanatan Rudra Pal,” said Moinak Dutta, a member of the puja committee after their khuti puja.

AJ Block consistently features on the list of top five crowd-pullers every October and despite the lack of theme, the association is confident of staying atop. “The puja at Bagbazar never has a theme yet every pandal-hopper worth his salt flocks to it. Many consider it such an auspicious puja that they start their trip with it. Our puja gets crowds from as far away as Bongaon and we are sure our idol will attract them this time too,” Dutta said.

In the run-up to the Pujas, the block hosted a corporate football tournament last weekend and a fair between September 13 and 15. “No one feels festive after the RG Kar incident and even our block has been organising marches in protest. But everyone from dhakis to phuchkawalas wait for the Pujas so they can earn a decent income and for their sake, we must carry on,” said Swarnali Datta, the puja’s media convenor. “Even the stalls at our fair have been booked mostly by block ladies and women’s self-help groups.”

CD Block, New Town

Residents are taking the lead this year and designing the pandal at New Town’s CD Block puja.

“We’ve chosen an abstract theme of life and lineage and want to depict the circle of life. The way a child grows up to, establishes himself but passes away, only to be survived by his own children. It will go to show how generations live on,” said Kallol Bhaumik, puja joint secretary, after their khuti puja.

Residents hold up the sacred bamboo pole at CD Block in New Town

Instead of appointing a professional theme-maker, members like Bhaumik and secretary Arindam Mukherjee are trying the flesh out the theme. For paintings and other executions, they are asking the pandal-makers to help out.

This will be CD Block’s sixth year of puja, third year of theme puja and only the second time that residents are in charge of the artwork. “Our khuti puja took place on August 15, the day after the midnight protests against the RG Kar incident, so the mood was sombre. Even at the pandal we are contemplating adding some elements to lodge our protest through art,” said Bhaumik.

CB Block

2024 is a landmark year for CB Block as it was the first time they performed khuti puja. “It was somehow not possible for us to perform this ritual earlier but we realised that people look for occasions to celebrate. Besides, khuti puja is quite the trend these days as most other blocks perform it,” said Soumen Goswami, secretary of the block and puja.

CB Block residents pose with a decorated pole outside their community hall

The khuti puja was held after flag hoisting on August 15 and saw robust participation from residents.

This will be the 47th year of the Durga puja and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The pandal will be shaped like a Shivalinga and the traditional idol will sculpted in Kumartuli.