In a bid to spread awareness regarding the female foeticide and other atrocities against women, the Bondhu Mahal has decided to have “Save Girl Child” as its theme. Puja President of the Bondhu Mahal Durga Puja Jayanto Pramanik while talking to “The Pioneer” on Monday said that the endeavour would include taking a written pledge from the visitors to keep the interest of the girl child in the uppermost on their mind. A copy of the written pledge will be sent to both the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The organization is arranging the Durga Puja for the first time this year.
Jayanto said that they were keeping the frills of entertainment out of the Durga Puja celebrations to focus on an issue which was more relevant today. “The theme has been taken because Maa Durga is herself a women and it seems paradoxical that we worship the Goddess and at the same time carry out acts like female foeticide in the society” said Jayanto.
The Puja President said that they would execute their theme with the help of some women organizations. “We have taken the help of a few women organizations and we plan to have banners on both sides of the road on the issue of, Save the Girl Child, that lead to the main pandal. We want the visitors to ponder on why these banners have been put up when they come to the pandal. Once inside the pandal these visitors will be counselled on the issue and then made to write the written pledge. These will be later sent both to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi” he said.
The Puja President admits that the collection of huge crowds at the point of pandal creates just the right venue for a social cause. “In this Durga Puja Festival several Bengali families visit the stall for puja which makes it an ideal place for spreading messages that have some social importance. The pandal will also have posters on both the sides which will also highlight the issue. There will also be drawing and panting competitions where in the senior childrens category this will also be a theme” he said.
The Counselling sessions on the subject will be carried out by both the volunteers of the Bondhu Mahal and the women organizations who participate in the effort, he informed.
Meanwhile giving the details of the puja he said that the Durga Puja will kick off on September 30 and the visarjan will take place on October 4. “As per the religious indications Maa Durga is arriving on a boat which means that there is going to be a lot of rains and floods when she comes which is auspicious occasion but when she leaves the signs are that she leaves on a swing which is not auspicious and will cause the happening of the various incidents.
The pandal will concenterate on the pujas which will be carried out in the traditional manner.