3(R)/S/O
Hindustan Times/New Delhi/11/10/07
DURGA PUJA - Eco-friendly is the theme this year
Pandals are being decorated with hoogla leaves and white cork The colourful theme based pandals, the fiery looking yet mesmerising idols, the mouth-watering food stalls that keeps everyone busy months before the actual preparations, makes the festival unique in its own way. It creates an atmosphere where even a non-Bengali would not feel alien.
Sucheta Das Mohapatra
THE DURGA Puja celebrations in Delhi this time seems to be reviving the nostalgia of age-old Bengali traditions, which have faded with time. The emphasis is on the use of eco-friendly and economical means with special emphasis on a variety of bhog (prasad), hordes of cultural programmes, all in a well thought-out style. The Kashmere Gate Puja is the oldest puja in the city It started in 1910 and has been organised at different places at different times. "Till 1947 we organised it at Laxmi Narayan Dharamshala in Fatehpuri and after partition we shifted to the Delhi Polytechnic Institute at Kashmere Gate. And in 1966 we shifted to Bengali Boys Senior Secondary School, Alipur Road," says Barun Mukherjee, joint secretary, Delhi Durga Puja Samiti. The main attractions in the pandals of Sector 40 and B Block in CR Park, and in Alaknanda, would be the use of hoogla leaves and Indian white cork. In R. K. Puram, interestingly the Goddess Durga will be seated on a chariot this time. Artworks made from hoog1a leaves and cork are being used to depict stories from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata all over the puja pandals. Ironically, in Eastern India where these leaves were till some time back commonly used for decorations as well as to cover the rooftops, are no longer popular And this is perhaps what enthused these artisans from Kanthi in Midnapore district to bring them to Delhi and give them wonderful shapes. Unfortunately, these untrained master craftsmen remain unemployed most of the year Agriculture, their only occupation hardly gives them any return and forces them to rush to far off places during the festival. And all this only for a meagre Rs 5,000 to 15,000. "But at least we make some money" says ChanchalParamanik, the head artisan. Many of these workers are unhappy with the fast pace of work in Delhi, which does not give them enough scope to prove their mett1e. "Here the pandals cost six times more than in Kolkata and even then we are asked to deliver soon," says Mohan Mandal, who has come from Diamond Harbour Indian white cork will rule the puja pandal in B Block, CR Park, started 32 years back. Likewise, the Indraprastha Matrimandir Nirman Society has decided to avoid plastic in decorations. "Biodegradable items are being used," says M. N. Bhattacharya, chairman of the puja committee, IP Extension. Kali Mandir, which witnesses the largest crowd, is all set to make the puja not only grand, but also an organised affair Special bhog will be dispatched to people, who have made special donations for the puja. In West Delhi, the centre of puja celebrations is the Bengali Colony in Mahavir Enclave. Here the large concentration of Bengalis has been holding puja for the last two decades. If one goes by numbers then Paschim Vihar, with three dit^ferent puja pandals, comes out as a colony with the maximum pujas. Besides pujas are also taking place in Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, Hari Nagar and Mayapuri. Dwarka is a new entrant in the puja celebrations in West Delhi. The East Pakistan Displaced Persons (EPDP) Association, the CR Park Kali Mandir Society, organisers of the other puja pandals of the area, has along with the ACP South Anil Shukla decided on tight security measures. Several women and youngsters have volunteered to help make the puja a peaceful affair "A fire brigade would remain deputed near the EPDP office throughout the five days of puja and CCTVs will be installed," informed A. B. Bhattacharya, president, Kali Mandir Society Likewise, the puja organisers across the city have come together for the bisarjan, which will start in the afternoon on Dussehra day and the idols will be taken in a peaceful procession to Kalindi Kunj. Several cultural programmes by artists from Mumbai and Kolkata are in the pipeline. From competitions to plays by senior citizens and youngsters, anondo mela and sindur khela, rituals like chakhyudan, sandhi puja and lots more, this time too the Goddess will bring with her many delights. But the march past by dhakis (drummers) of all puja pandals in CR Park on the morning of shashti seems to be already boosting the spirit of all Delhiites and inspiring them to be a part of the ostentatious festivities. (With inputs from Vijay Krishna, Aasheesh Mamgain and Chanchal Mukherdee) Main attractions The pandals of Sector 40 and B Block in CR Park, and the one in Alaknanda too, would be using hoogla leaves and Indian white cork in R. K. Puram, Interestingly the Goddess Durga will be seated on a chariot this time