Themes, crime-against-women messages to coexist at many Durga Puja pandals this yr

Kolkata: Several big-budget pujas will go ahead with the themes planned before the RG Kar junior doctor's rape and murder on Aug 9 but are keeping options open to acknowledge the collective revulsion against the crime in an attempt to balance "festivities and the city's mood".Some pujas have redesigned their idols to reflect the mood through Durga, whereas others plan to weave in the themes of ‘justice' and ‘protest' even as they stick to their original designs and subjects, which are generally planned and executed months in advance. Yet others are going for a subdued ‘theme' this year and bringing about minor alterations to tone down the glitz.

Among the pujas that have chosen to introduce a "sub-theme" are Mudiali Shibmandir. Here, the organisers have decided to go with "Suraksha na Atmaraksha (security or self-defence)" along with the main theme, "Bratya (ostracisation)". One of the biggest draws of south Kolkata, the puja, organised by Shibmandir Lake Temple Club, has included a call for "justice" in its pre-puja teasers on social media. It will also have students of a school — which it runs — perform karate and self-defence drills with the message of "protection and security".Partha Ghosh, the club's secretary, said the demand for "justice" in teasers, was included to "express solidarity" because "when a wave of protest sweeps through the city, everything is touched by it."The children displaying karate moves would act as a "reminder that we all need to learn self-defence techniques to protect ourselves," he explained, adding, "We are also considering the possibility of including a ‘demand for justice' on a banner near the pandal. But that will not interfere with the original theme."At two other south Kolkata pujas — Bagha Jatin Vidyasagar Central Sarbojonin and Bhawanipore 75 Pally — the idol artist, Sanatan Dinda, is making "improvisations" to the idols. The Bagha Jatin idol now has a lion's face carved out of Durga's chest, symbolising grit and fight, said Dinda. "While the theme of the puja is anti-war — ‘Tora juddha kore korbi ki ta bol' — I have altered the look of the idol, in keeping with the RG Kar protests," he said. "Over the last few years, I had moved away from Durga's aggressive posture and turned her into ‘Gouri', or a girl of the house without her weapons. This time, I have gone back to her traditional warrior image and given her a trishul (trident) in every arm, reflecting anger and the need to fight back."At Bhawanipore 75 Pally, where the theme is "Kolkata abar Kollolini hobe (Kolkata will once again be joyful)", the theme has been altered significantly to reflect the prevailing mood of protest. "Here, too, I have moved away from the theme of placid joy to that of conflict and fight for justice. There will be multiple faces of Durga, reflecting anger. Having undergone a complete makeover, the idol is now being put together at a workshop," Dinda said.Badamtala Ashar Sangha in Chetla, another big-ticket south Kolkata puja, had decided to "go slow" with preparations as long as the protests were on. The organisers will soon convene a meeting to decide whether "demand for justice" should be included as part of their original theme. "Our theme this year is ‘Utsaber Chalchitre', and we are keeping the decorations and exterior as simple as possible. Even though we are on course for the puja, work has slowed down. If necessary, we will cut down further on the frills," said club secretary Sandip Barik.
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