It’s nearly October, but the air is far from festive. While Durga puja will continue, committees are facing pressure from residents to keep celebrations low-key in light of the rape and murder of the young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. In many blocks, work on the idols and pandals had begun before the incident, and so the axe is falling on cultural programmes.

Cancel call

AD Block has cancelled its cultural programmes entirely. “Some wanted it scaled down, others said the kids wanted to perform. There was so much disagreement that we’ve decided to cancel everything,” says block secretary Arya Ganguly. “We’re not even building a stage. We’ll simply distribute saris to the needy and donate to flood victims. And the savings we make from the subdued puja will go into our 50th year celebrations in four years.”

Silver Oak Estate in New Town has cancelled a major musical performance. “We had booked Debojit, winner of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005, months ago, but people want none of it now. We’ve cancelled the show and forfeited the Rs 1 lakh advance,” says Amit Mukhopadhyay, president of their puja committee.

No participants

HB Block wanted to stop cultural events altogether, “but then we thought of the kids who have been waiting all year to perform. So, we’ll only have kids’ events for one day, in a compact two-hour slot,” says Anagh Bhattacharya, secretary of the HB Block Residents’ Association.

At DA Block, Puloma Sen had planned a performance inspired by the RG Kar incident but has since withdrawn, as her neighbours weren’t inclined to participate. “Residents want to keep puja and protest separate. I had planned a script based on Nazrul’s Gahi sammer gaan, on equality between the genders, but had to drop the idea,” says Sen, a dance teacher. “If my students are interested, I’ll teach them what I had planned, but the mood across the city is such that performances are few this year.”

Thematic shows

Fashion shows and dandiyas have been cancelled, perhaps across the board, and at BK Block, their customary Navami-r adda featuring celebrities has been dropped as no one is in the mood for pujor adda now.

AJ Block’s joint cultural convenor, Madhumita Roy, says they’ve asked performers to choose topical but not overly depressing themes. “But then we don’t even need to say it. They’ve told us themselves that they don’t feel like performing this year, but if they do, it will certainly reflect the times,” says Roy.

For the past 10 years, Sonali Sen has directed a scripted dance show at CK-CL Block, featuring more than 20 participants, both young and old. She’s called it off this year, convinced she won’t find enough participants. “With kids involved, I can’t make the theme too serious, and if it’s too light, adults will find it inappropriate,” says Sen.

While they’re not screening kids’ items, adults are being requested to opt out of Bollywood songs and go for sombre themes such as women’s empowerment instead. “We’re planning a group performance called Achena agomoni, which will include thematic items like Tagore’s Proshno and end with Ar Kobe, the Arijit Singh song released for the RG Kar protests,” Sen says.

Lunch in a lurch

AG Block has cancelled not just cultural events but also the community lunch. “There will be no inauguration ceremony, only mantras — and no music — will be played on the loudspeaker, and lunch will not be served this year,” says cultural secretary Shriya Biswas. “The committee took this decision, and there’s been no objection from residents.”

At HB Block, a few residents called for the community lunch to be stopped, “but by then, food coupons had already been distributed. It was too late to make a change,” says Bhattacharya. “Besides, community lunch is not just about feasting but about taking a break from cooking. Many neighbours only meet each other at the puja lunches, so it’s an opportunity to socialise.”

The tiny JC Block has long been the envy of others for its elaborate non-vegetarian puja meals, offered twice daily along with an afternoon snack. “This year, we haven’t even booked an idol yet,” said Tapan Kumar Sharma, who is usually on the puja committee, on Wednesday. “We’re still unsure whether to hold the Puja at all. If we do, it will be a small affair, meals would be vegetarian and not twice a day. Cultural events, if any, will be limited to songs of protest.”

Such blocks, however, are exceptions as most have kept food arrangements intact. “Mutton and prawns are still on the menu, and no one has asked to take them off,” says Mukhopadhyay of Silver Oak Estate. “We can’t force people to eat vegetarian fare, knowing well that they’ll go home and order mutton biryani.”