Gender bender: 7 girls to perform Saraswati Puja in Kolkata govt school

KOLKATA: In a first, a state govt-run school in the city has decided to ask seven girls to conduct this year's Saraswati Puja on Feb 14. The move was welcomed by sociologists and educationists, who felt this could help usher in an era of inclusion in an area that was, until recently, completely off-limits to women.

The move by Jadavpur Vidyapith comes close on the heels of several Durga Puja committees in Bengal asking Muslim girls to be the goddess for Kumari Puja.

The team of seven includes three from class 9: Rupsa Mukherjee, Srija Sau and Srija Mandal, who will conduct the main puja; and four from class 10: Kankana Paul, Sukanya Mandal, Ankita Baidya and Sampurna Das, who'll perform the Vedic yajna.

Partha Pratim Baidya, the headmaster, said: "It will send out a strong message to society - that women are entitled to take part in any event and even be priests. We took this decision on a short notice and asked girl students who were interested. Many came forward; seven were picked for the job."

'We hope discrimination against women will vanish'
Jadavpur Vidyapith headmaster Partha Pratim Baidya said two former students - Diptadeep Ghosh and Soumyodeep Saha - were teaching the mantras and rituals to the seven girls.

When TOI visited the school on Friday, the seven girls were busy at practice. "I'm excited to be on the team," said Sukanya Mandal.

Kankana Paul, who is in the 'yajna' group, said she had always been drawn towards puja and rituals. "But I never thought I can play the role of a priest," she said. Srija Sau said she, from a young age, used to watch male priests perform puja and wanted to do that someday. "I hope I can do it well," she said.

Diptadeep and Soumyodeep, who left school last year and are now studying in Asutosh College, are also thrilled. "We feel proud the school authorities gave us this responsibility," Diptadeep said.

Big-banner Durga Puja organizers had set the trend of involving women priests to conduct pujas. TOI had reported that a puja in New Ttown had worshipped an eight-year-old Muslim girl during Kumari Puja last year.

Priest Nandini Bhowmik said, "I am so happy and hope that we will establish a society where discrimination against women will vanish," she said. Sociologist Sukanya Sarbadhikari agreed, with a caveat. "Proper quality has to be ensured. But yes, this should set a new trend."

Educationist Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri felt boys should have been included, as Jadavpur Vidyapith was co-ed.

(Inputs by Basabdatta Sarkar)