Durga Puja 2024

Published:  09:19 AM, 09 October 2024

Embodying Bonds of Friendship and Cordiality

Embodying Bonds of Friendship and Cordiality
 
Durga Puja 2024 is just knocking at the door. Less than a month is still pending. Last minute preparations are in full swing which will be opened before the vast numbers of devotees from diverse strata of the societies. It is not only in Kolkata city but also on district level. During the four to five days of festivities the entire citizens with citizens of the minority communities participate in Puja euphoria amidst much fanfare. These four to five days of Puja everybody forget about the monotone in their respective fields. All are in dressed in new clothes.

Prior to the beginning of Durga Puja. A week ago the festival of Mahalaya takes place. It is in one way paving citizens of Bengal to participate in this five day festivities. There is a popular saying that Durga Puja is chiefly meant for Bengalis of West Bengal, Tripura, Lower Assam, main metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Durga Puja is wholeheartedly celebrated by the Bengalis of Bangladesh, US, UK, Germany and Japan. In all these nations as there is a massive domination of Bengali migrants hence Durga Puja is observed amidst the spectre of communal amity and integrity.

In order to write about Durga Puja for the year 2024, I feel this year is something special. Human beings meaning Bengalis are in the midst of destruction and sufferings. As Puja is knocking at the door, the pious mind of us has become so serene and remorse. Hence citizens among us are reluctant to observe the five days of festivities. My readers might have understood the reason behind expressing this thoughts. Social and economic aspects of the region are in shambles. Even if we flourish in academic aspect, but along with it we must emphasise upon development of economic aspect. It is highly logical. If we are advanced in our economic aspect, then at least we derive some acceptability in life.

That is why during the Durga Puja of the year 2024, the citizens of Kolkata are in midst of remorse mood. All around the nation, the citizen’s progress has been perturbed due to economic doldrums. The same situations we are suffering in Kolkata and in other parts of West Bengal. That is why the mind of the citizens of WB are badly crestfallen. Couple of months prior to the Puja on October 10, the citizens of West Bengal as well as other parts of the nation, witnessed ghastly and barbaric incident. It was regarding the gruesome rape and murder of Dr Moumita Debnath, the trainee pulmonologist of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

This has cast a pall of gloom and remorse upon the citizens of the state as well as citizens of other parts of India plus rest of the world. On account of the above incident like citizens of West Bengal others are badly broken down. It is totally inexpressible in words. Also in Kolkata, other parts of India plus rest of the globe there was mass protests with slogan ‘we want justice’.

To delve more into this thought it may be coined as ‘those who commit this type of heinous crime they should be severely taken to task.’ Erstwhile principal of R.G.Kar Dr Sandip Ghosh was transferred to Chittaranjan National Medical College.

Ma Durga might be infinite to us. But her blessings seem to be of paramount importance to us. That is by during the five days of the Puja we find that people from all walks of life throng the Pandals to offer Anjali at the altar or pedestal of Goddess Durga.

Though this year’s Durga Puja in West Bengal seems to be murky. Also the August 5 political coup might be one of the reason. Taking into account the R.G.Kar issue which coincides with the rape cum murder of a promising pulmonologist on August 9. Taking into account both the incidents, the kind of euphoria which was generated during the previous years. But that some impact is not noticeable till date in Kolkata along with other parts of India.

Like Kolkata, West Bengal plus rest of India. I find that apart from R.G.Kar episode, massive economic pressures upon citizens of West Bengal, the celebrations might be little bit obscure. Though West Bengal government is expected to contribute to all Puja organisers of Kolkata with Rs 90,000 to each Puja organiser. This might also be a telling effect upon state’s economy. There are many writer of the state who write about Durga Puja exclusively unmindfully misses the economic aspect. This is most disappointing. But economic aspect is always vital for any event. Especially religious and social event of the type of Durga Puja should not be neglected at all.

Apart from the economic aspect, I feel that Durga Puja is also responsible to embody bonds of friendship and cordiality among people of all religions and languages. During the five days of Puja, it is estimated to have devotees to the tune of around 1, 50,000 in each pandal of Kolkata. Among the visitors there are not only local Bengalis, but along with it there are also migrant populations along representative of all diplomatic corps based in Kolkata.

Though diplomatic corps are very less available in Kolkata. This year the total number of Pujas in city proper are expected to be around 10,000 inclusive of North, South and Eastern part of Kolkata. In Kolkata, household Pujas of traditional families of Kolkata must be around 150. In this regard, the notable among them are Dorjipara Mitra Bari, Chatubabu Durga Puja, and Mallickbari Pujas etc in Bhawanipore draw massive crowd during the five days.

During the five days of Durga Puja I find people from all walks of life are involved deeply in these euphoric moments. There lies no discriminatory mentality among them. All are same just human beings of this earth.

Same scenarios are noticeable in different districts of West Bengal. The pity scenarios we notice is in our neighbour Bangladesh. Where there is a doubtful proposition to stage Durga Puja. Judging by the current political turmoil it is truly doubtful whether Durga Puja is likely to be held or not. Exceptions are likely to be at Ramakrishna Mission, Dakheswari Kali Temple and Ramna Kali Temple.

Judging by my above discourses. It is found that Durga Puja is no doubt relevant as per prevailing social and political turmoil going on. The way humanity is passing off through a stormy life, the influence of Ma Durga will no doubt be a blessing for our success and prosperity in life. But the name Late Moumita Debnath will be ever enshrined in the storehouses of our mind and memories. Hope in the upcoming days of our life Ma Durga continue to bless us thereby embodying bonds of friendship and cordiality among the entire humanity residing in India, Bangladesh plus rest of the globe. We shouldn’t enter into any sort of enmity with others. Then we find peaceful and calm atmosphere in today’s earth.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Kolkata, India.



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