Kolkata: Reeling under a pandemic for the second year in a row, a number of Puja Durga organizers in the city have chosen Covid-19 as a central theme for this year’s celebration.
But there is one important change, it is tempting: last year, the focus is disease and infection; This year, this is a way to emerge from a pandemic, in accordance with the global scenario.
“If 2020 concerning Covid-19 infection, 2021 is all about vaccination, the only weapon against this disease.
So, this year, we strive to spread the importance of vaccination from our Puja’s place,” said Ashok Ojha, Joint Secretary, MD Ali Committee Park Durga Praises.
While Kolkata Middle Puja will be themed around the Covid Vaccination Center, other Puja Organizer – Baghejajatin Vivekanda Milan Sangha in South Kolkata – focus on mental anxiety triggered by locking and restrictions, and how to overcome it.
But another puja in Kasba is to model an asura idol and decor around Covid, with many guides to defeat the disease.
Some clubs have even employed craftsmen and players who have been hit with a pandemic to showcase their talents in their place and donate Lion’s parts from subscribing to them.
“This pandemic has an impact on mental health.
Our pandal will focus on depression problems,” said Apu Saha, the secretary of the Puja Committee.
“There will be artifacts and art forms that display drugs and other ways for recovery from depression.” Highlighting the problem of obstacle learning for children, with schools closed for pandemic, Uttar Kolkata Sanhati in Maniktala crashed into their pandal with pictures of children trapped at home, with minimal human interaction and limited to online learning through laptops and cellphones.
Meanwhile, emphasizing the importance of wearing masks and maintaining distances, idols at the expensive Bandhu club Ashwininagar Baguiati will wear a golden mask, even when the pandal itself will be done with Covid guidelines and instructions.
Similar messages will be aired by the Rabindra Memorial Sporting Club in Kasba, where the head of Asura is formed in the form of a Delta variant of the virus, and the pandal will bring reminders to the appropriate behavior of Covid.
“This is the first time we experiment with idols,” said Arnab Chowdhury, Secretary of the Puja Committee.
“While clinging to all Covid guidelines, we want to send a message that Devil Covid can be killed if we maintain the basic rules of masking, sanititis, physical distance and ensure we will be vaccinated.” There are also committees such as Janakalyan Sangha in Beleghata and 75 Pally at Bhowanipore, who dedicated this puja to wooden doll makers in East Burdwan and Chhau artists in Purulia, contributing most of the subscriptions and is made together, along with them, together with their premise available to them to do and sell their items.
While the former committee will support 50 strange families of wooden doll makers in Natungram in East Burdwan, the latter will support a number of Chhau players from their place.
“The viewer like them was the biggest victim of the Covid pandemic, and we dedicated this year’s Puja to them,” said Subir Das, Secretary, 75 Pally.
“We move away from all luxury, prefer to donate money to players and present their families with new clothes and also allow them to sell their items from our place.”