From eco-friendly pandals, awareness about orphans and spastic children to saying no to using plastic, Durga Puja associations try their best at CSR
There is the faint sound of dhak coming from the distance, which gradually grows louder. Then one can hear the conch playing distinctly followed by women ululating. One can also look forward to dhunuchi naach and pandal hopping, for you guessed it, it is the time the city and especially those who hail from the state of Bengal can look forward to Durga Puja.
But if you think that it is just a festival to dress and eat well while showing piety, think again. The Bengali associations across Delhi-NCR use their creativity to showcase their tradition and use the platform to also take care of their social responsibilities. From eco-friendly pandals to creating awareness about various social issues, the committees have done it all.
This year Arambagh Puja will try to create awareness about the plight of orphans and spastic children in India. Taking inspiration from the great painting of Abanindranath Tagore’s Bharat Mata from 1935, the puja samiti will make a replica of 40 ft tall Bharat Mata.
Abhijit Bose, executive chairman, Arambagh Puja said, “Apart from a few NGOs, social organisations and government programmes, there is little awareness about the orphans and spastic children in India. This section has hardly any voice. Through this year’s Durga Puja we want to sensitise people, government and private bodies about this crucial issue in India. First, we have to admit that it is a serious issue and then only can we solve the problem,” he said, adding “We have invited various NGOs who are working at the grassroot level with these children without any government aid and will try to help them as much as possible.”
In Chittaranjan Park which is considered the hub of the Bengali community, the Co-operative Ground Durga Puja Samity, which is celebrating its 43rd Durga Puja, will showcase six different folk dances of West Bengal through creative panels made with eco-friendly material like papier-mâché, jute, plywood and bamboo. The attire of the idols is similar to Nataraj style and the colours are rustic. The dancers sing themselves and also perform to the the singing of another group. Folk dances in West Bengal are mainly of three kinds: religious, social and cultural. Religious dances outnumber other forms.
The Chittaranjan Park B-Block Durga Puja has a thakur galan theme. This was a space for daily pujas at the zamindar houses where the floor had black and white checks like a chess board made with marble. They will be replicating the floor pattern as well. The zamindars’ houses opened up their homes to the public during the Durgotsav and would feed thousands during that time. They have kept the environment in mind and used organic colours for the idol and cane, wood, cloth and thermocol for the pandal. “While the first three are easily recyclable the latter needs some effort,” said Sameer Banerjee, general secretary of the puja committee.
At Mayur Vihar, the Milani Cultural and Welfare Association will pay homage to Satyajit Ray’s anti-war fantasy comedy film, Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne, which was released half a century ago.
The pandal will focus on the film’s central characters the King of Ghost, Goopi Gyne, the blessed singer and Bagha Byne, the blessed drum player, who brought peace between two warring countries through the power of their music. They will create an artificial bamboo bush with the King of Bhoot talking in his inimitable style and voice.
“Just the way, in the film the King of Ghost turned novice Goopi and Bagha into marvelous performers, we want him to bless us to say no to the use of plastic, thermocol and make our Yamuna clean with zero pollution. Our pandal is environment friendly, plastic free and child friendly,” said Mrinal Biswas, general secretary of MC&WA.
Photo: Pankaj Kumar