Kolkata: A dummy Enforcement Directorate (ED) automobile, a cutout of the West Bengal government-run SSKM Hospital, and bundles of money. The BJP’s Durga Puja in Kolkata highlights the alleged circumstances of corruption within the state.
As you enter the Jap Zonal Cultural Centre in Salt Lake space, coal smuggling, cattle smuggling, Narada rip-off and Saradha chit fund rip-off posters cowl the partitions. A thermocol cutout of a seized property of former state schooling minister Partha Chatterjee additionally stands within the premises. The message? Combating corruption in West Bengal.
The previous minister and his “shut aide” Arpita Chatterjee had been arrested by the ED in July in reference to the alleged College Service Fee (SSC) rip-off — irregular appointments of instructing and non-teaching workers at government-run colleges in return for money. Arpita was arrested a day after the ED seized Rs 21 crore from her flat.
“We’re praying to Maa Durga for many who have been cheated because of the scams and await justice. Might Maa Durga assist take away corruption within the state of West Bengal. I’ve additionally prayed that there be no violence throughout the panchayat polls subsequent 12 months,” state BJP president Dr Sukanta Majumdar advised ThePrint.
In the meantime, Kunal Ghosh, spokesperson of the ruling Trinamool Congress, stated: “The BJP has realised it has no help [in Bengal], the corruption and atrocities towards ladies in BJP-ruled states is all around the information each day. Such gimmicks in Bengal is not going to minimize ice with the folks. However everyone seems to be free to have fun Durga Puja.”
In different components of the town, the themes of Durga Puja pandals ranged from Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh’s work, Vatican Metropolis, the Supreme Court docket’s Might order upholding intercourse work as a career, and post-poll violence.
Additionally Learn: Admit playing cards from 2016, land paperwork – Why ED arrested TMC’s Partha Chatterjee in SSC case
Politics and puja pandals
That is the third, and maybe the final time the BJP is organising Durga Puja in Kolkata, a practice that began in 2020, simply forward of the 2021 meeting elections. As a result of fund crunch, the get together has determined to discontinue the puja subsequent 12 months onwards, stated BJP’s Majumdar.
This 12 months, the get together determined to select a non-Brahmin priestess to carry out the rituals throughout Durga Puja. And Sulata Mondal is thrilled to have been given this chance. Talking to ThePrint, Mondal recalled recognizing senior BJP leaders like Tathagata Roy whereas she worshipped the goddess.
“A number of of those that got here to see the puja stated they’d heard about me within the information and needed to see how I carry out the puja. I’m very grateful I acquired this chance,” she stated.
On the Naktala Udayan Sangha in Behala space, the puja pandal appears to have misplaced its glamour this 12 months as its chief patron, Partha Chatterjee, is behind bars. A fantastically crafted Durga idol adorns the pandal. Until final 12 months, the pandal could be coated with posters of Partha Chatterjee, he would launch a puja music album and celebrities could be seen there taking photographs with him.
Forty-two-year-old Debarchana Ghosh from Garia stated she needed to see if there was one thing completely different this 12 months within the backdrop of the minister’s arrest. “I go to this pandal yearly however this 12 months, I made a pitstop solely to see if there was something completely different.”
Anjan Das, common secretary of Naktala Udayan Sangha, advised ThePrint that he wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee twice to inaugurate the puja, however didn’t obtain any response. “We wrote as soon as in August after which in September,” he stated.
The puja committee claims that Chatterjee’s arrest has not impacted the footfall this 12 months. “Our puja is 34 years previous, so we’ve been celebrating this even earlier than Partha Chatterjee patronised it. We do miss him, however the legislation of the land needs to be revered,” Das stated.
West Bengal minister Sujit Bose’s puja at Sreebhumi in Laketown space is the discuss of the city. The pandal has been themed round St Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican Metropolis, recreated with marble textured partitions and European artwork on the dome beneath which goddess Durga stands. The road to enter the pandal runs over two kilometers because the younger and previous wait to get a glimpse of ‘Rome in Kolkata’.
Mamata inaugurated the puja on 25 September and warned the minister to make sure there aren’t any visitors snarls because the street results in the airport and will inconvenience commuters.
“Sreebhumi creates one of the best pandal yearly. Final 12 months it was Burj Khalifa and this time it’s Vatican. We left house at 7 am to keep away from the gang but it surely’s nearly 11 am now and it’s nonetheless packed,” Subhash Das, a resident of Howrah, advised ThePrint.
Within the Maniktala pandal, Biswajit Sarkar, who misplaced his brother Avijit Sarkar, a BJP employee, in alleged post-poll violence, has proven Durga holding an orphaned little one, the dad and mom mendacity useless at her ft, soaked in blood, and the demon Mahishasur carrying a inexperienced kurta, standing beside the goddess and laughing. A BJP flag has additionally been saved on the goddess’ ft within the pandal.
“My mom nonetheless awaits justice. This 12 months, our theme is post-poll violence. This puja was began by Avijit. He’s no extra, however we proceed to host Durga Puja in his reminiscence,” stated Biswajit.
Additionally Learn: Bengal post-poll violence: 70 out of 303 ‘displaced’ folks returned house, Mamata govt tells HC
UNESCO honour
In the course of the 5 days of Durga Puja, Kolkata is dotted with artistic pandals and adorned in shiny lights. This 12 months, it’s much more particular because it comes after the state’s Durga Puja was honoured with UNESCO’s intangible heritage tag. After two years of low-key Durga Puja because of the pandemic, revellers have left no stone unturned to go to puja pandals from north to south Kolkata this 12 months.
In south Kolkata, Hindustan Park has recreated Vincent van Gogh’s well-known portray, Starry Night time. The pandal has been constructed with previous denims and hangers. “We needed to thank the non-organised sector and every day wage earners, with out whom our lives could be troublesome. This 12 months, we needed to provide our token of appreciation to the tailors, lots of whom misplaced their incomes because of the pandemic final 12 months,” stated Subhash Bhowmik, the organiser.
In Baranagar, Durga has been depicted as a intercourse employee, carrying a conventional white and purple saree, and holding her youngsters. Anjan Pal, the chief puja organiser of Nawpara Dadabhai Sangha, advised ThePrint, “The theme this 12 months is parichay or identification. We needed to convey a few change within the mindset of individuals with regards to intercourse staff. They too have an identification of their very own. Whereas the authorized battle has been partially received, the stigma continues.” It is usually the primary puja within the nation to make use of silicon to create the deity.
Earlier this 12 months, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court docket issued a historic order that recognised intercourse work as a career and stated that intercourse staff are entitled to dignity and equal safety beneath the legislation. The apex court docket had elaborated that ‘voluntary’ intercourse work was not unlawful.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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