Monday, 07 October 2024
Monday, 07 October 2024
In recent years there has seen a significant rise in the number of Durga Pujas organised by women across Calcutta. These women-led committees are breaking barriers and adding another dimension to the festival with innovative themes and creative designs.
From sustainability to social messages, these pandals reflect the powerful role women play in the Durga Puja celebrations.
“We started more than 10 years back, and in the beginning we focused only on social ceremonies,” said Nandini Bhowmik, a priestess and Indologist who started Shubhamastu, a team of women priests who conduct Hindu rituals in weddings and Durga Pujas.
“We had our own share of struggles in the beginning… but we did not give up hope and stuck to our beliefs. In those days, people used to demean us saying ‘arey meyra ki korbe’, what do they know and now the attitude is that the women know best. We always blended mantras with songs as Bengali has a rich culture of music.
“Today, we have successfully taken priesthood to an arthood. Shubhamastu is associated with five Durga Pujas this year,” she said. “I am also doing Durga Puja for the first time this year in my house. We received so many requests for Durga Puja this year that we had to say no to nearly five Pujas.”
Here is a quick look at six of the many women-led Durga Pujas of Calcutta this year.
Onyo Pujo's theme of ‘Rebirth’
Onyo Pujo, a Durga Puja of Offbeat CCU organised by 20 women along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, focuses on the theme of Rebirth or the emergence of the divine. Their upcycled pandal, made primarily from plastic bottles, showcases how discarded materials can be transformed into something meaningful.
"Just as Maa Durga brings balance and renewal, we are giving our idol a second chance to shine," said Pauline Laravoire, the chief curator.
“Me and my mother-in-law to our cohort of patrons and co-organisers that includes influential people like Trina Saha, women are a driving force behind this Puja,” she said
The pandal will be open to visitors from October 8 at 6 pm.
Hindustan Park's message of peace
The Hindustan Park Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee, a women-led group, has chosen the theme ‘Kalpo Ritur Golpogatha’ (Imagination of Season) for their pandal.
“By choosing this theme we have imagined a new season where there is only peace and no war. This theme was chosen by our artists 10 months back. We are a team of 25 women and our puja is women-led,” said Sutapa Roy Chowdhury, secretary & treasurer, Hindustan Park Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee.
“We have also tied up with Eveready to ensure women’s safety,” she said.
Sonagachi's Durbar Durgotsab
In Kolkata's largest red-light district, 11 women from the community have organised the Durbar Durgotsab, marking their 12th year of celebration.
The theme is Durbar Durgotsab Ei Ek Jug (An era of the Durbar Durga Puja).
“We started our Durga Puja back in the year 2013, we are completing 12 years of our Puja this year, that’s why we have chosen this theme.” Vishakha Naskar, 49, secretary of the Puja, told The Telegraph Online.
“Our pandal is located in Abinash Kabiraj Street in the middle of Sonagachi,” added Naskar
The pandal opened for public viewing from October 7.
Ardhnarishwar Puja: Challenging gender norms
Led by transgender women, the Ardhnarishwar Puja near Netaji Nagar delivers a message against gender bias.
"Shiv and Shakti are one, and so is society," said Ranjita Sinha, a community member.
The Puja, which has been held for the past eight years, highlights a message of inclusivity and breaking societal stigmas. Their idol is not immersed but kept with them throughout the year. The team consists of 50 transgender women, all dedicated to making the festival open and welcoming for everyone.
“There is a societal stigma attached to transgender community and LGBT community but Durga Puja is for everyone. People often laugh at us when they see us. We were never involved in any of the Pujas; that is why we started to do our own Durga Puja. We never got any government money except one year,” Sinha said.
Golf Green's recycled pandal
The women of Golf Green Sarod Utsav Committee have embraced sustainability with their theme Amader Prithavi, Amader Pujo (Our Earth, Our Puja). The pandal has been made using old clothes and recycled materials
“The mandap of our puja has been made by women and the theme has also been chosen by women. The full work of our pandal has been done by women. We are a team of 20 to 25 women,” Jhuma Biswas, assistant secretary, Golf Green Sarod Utsav Committee, told The Telegraph Online.
The pandal will open on Chaturthi for visitors.
Durga Madhav Puja: A centuries-old Puja, revived
A group of four women have revived a nearly 300-year-old traditional Bengali home Durga Puja in Panchasayar. The Puja was paused for 100 years due to various challenges but was revived in 2022. Unlike most idols, theirs is made of wood instead of clay and is not immersed.
“The whole Puja is led by women. First we worship Lord Jagganath and then we worship Goddess Durga,” Madhuboni Chatterjee, danseuse and Puja organiser, told The Telegraph Online.
