City pujas draw from Tagore to rock to include all

NOIDA: The Durga Puja celebrations in Noida will have them all - from Rabindranath Tagor to rock performances to fashion shows.
Saptarshi Sangha at Noida's Sector 50 has themed the celebration around Rabindranath Tagore to commemorate his 150{+ }birth anniversary. "Our Durga Puja celebration has various elements, which are inspired by the multifarious works, life and times of Tagore.It will give all, especially our children, a glimpse into our rich heritage," said Nandini Bhattacharjee, the spokesperson for the puja committee.
The pandal has been modelled around Tagore's ancestral home, Jorasanko Thakurbari, in north Calcutta. Representations of different artworks and paintings by Tagore will adorn its alcoves while the idol has been created in the traditional style, using eco-friendly material.
The puja committee will also organize a fashion show revolving around the female characters in Tagore's literature and the important women in his life. "The current style of wearing the sari with the shoulder drape and pleats evolved from the experiments made by the ladies of the Tagore family who were inspired by the styles of various parts of the country as well as western fashion. It's a part of Bengali culture, which is often forgotten," said Bhattacharjee.
The puja at Jalvayu Vihar will be themed around rural Bengal and has lined up a variety of shows. The idol has been made of terracotta while the pandal will be adorned with handicrafts from rural Bengal. "This is our 19{+t} {+h} {+ }year and we are one of the oldest pujas in the city. We wanted to make sure that we have something for everyone who turns up. On one hand, we will have theatrical performances from Kolkata and on the other hand, we have modern Bengali musicians like Prashant Bose performing for us. Besides, there will be a dance drama performance by students of Rabindra Bharati Univeristy in Kolkata alongside a number of local performances," said Amit Dasgupta of the puja committee.
Sarbojanin Durga Puja at Noida Sector 34 promises to be a musical bonanza. "Bengali rock band Chandrabindoo will perform on saptami, on October 3, while Sraboni Sen, renowned Rabindra Sangeet singer, will perform on ashtami, October 4. There will also be Bengali folk baul music. We have a number of events planned in such a way that everyone enjoys the shows. We don't want to alienate the youth, many of whom have grown up in Noida," said Tarun Bagchi, the president of the Noida Bangiya Samiti.