Ma Durga is coming to town
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Ma Durga is coming to town

You can take the Bengali out of Kolkata but you can’t take Kolkata out of the Bengali. Here are three Puja committees that capture the essence of Durga Puja in Indirapuram.

Ma Durga is coming to town

Is there a way to tell Durga Puja is round the corner? If you ask a Kolkatan, he or she will ask you to take a whiff of the air. The smell of shiuli phool, or the night jasmine, they will say.

Here in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, there is no night jasmine in the air. But the festive spirit? You can’t take that away from the Bengalis. The pandal skeletons are up, the idols are being painted, artisans are working round the clock and puja committees are running helter skelter to make their pujo the best in the city. In Bengali households, the adda over tea is taking on a feverish tinge as the annual homecoming of Ma Durga is discussed.

As the city gears up for October 7, or Saptami, City Spidey takes a peek into the preparations by three Puja committees.

1. Bongotoru Sharodotsav 2016

Venue: Central Park, Shipra Sun City.

Members of Bongotoru, a socio-cultural group, think of the festival as a “toru”, or a plant, intertwining itself around and connecting more than 400 families in Indirpuram. In its 16th year now, celebrations will take on an eco-friendly hue. The leaves of the hogla plant, or elephantgrass, which grows with wild abandon in the heart of the Sundarban delta, will be seen decorating the pandal at Shipra Sun City. Discarded plastic pet bottles, arranged in nifty designs, will give them company on the pandal walls. But this is not a job for any artisan. Special craftsmen have been called in from West Bengal, and the idols are getting their final touches at the Jhilmil Colony Kalibari even as you read this, ready to be welcomed at the pandal by October 1.

USP: A separate idol made entirely from recycled pet bottles. Along with folk music, contemporary Bengali tunes and foot-tapping Hindi numbers.

 

   

The pandal is almost done. Just a few final touches and it'll be ready to house Ma Durga

 

Decorations made from recycled plastic bottles

 

Decorations made from the leaves of the hogla plant

 

2. Prantic

Venue: Grounds near Shipra Mall, Vaibhav Khand

This socio-cultural organisation has dedicated its fifth Durga Puja to rural Bengal art. The theme "Gram Uday, Bharat Uday" will see the pandal decorated by various folk-art styles, such as Patachitra from Midnapore, Kalighat paintings, which originated in 19th-century Bengal, and the earthy artworks of painter Jamini Roy. Tapash Maity, the artist from West Bengal in charge of the decorations, ensures he uses eco-friendly colours for most of his paintings. Manik Paul, an artist from CR Park, is sculpting the idol. Niladri Deb Choudhury, Prantic's general secretary says, “This year, in keeping with our theme of soothing rural art, Ma Durga will also don a softer look, not the fiery look of the destroyer.” Celebrations will start right from Chaturthi, the fourth day of Durga Puja, and will showcase the diversity of art culture in India.

USP: The "Aaat Theke Aashi" — or 8 to 80 — fashion show. As you may have already guessed, models will include everyone from grandkids to grandparents.

 

It's folk art all the way in this pandal

 

Tapash Maity, the artist from West Bengal in charge of decorations, gives the final touches to an artwork

 

These Tripura Kathi lamps, used to decorate the pandal, will be sold off after the celebrations, with proceeds going to the artisans

 

3. Aponjon Cultural Society Sharbojonin Durga Puja

Venue: Grounds opposite Indirapuram Habitat Centre

This is Aponjon’s second year organising Durga Puja. And it has chosen the quintessential Barowari pujo of Kolkata — or the grand public festivities — as the theme to showcase local Bengali talent in Indirapuram, be it in art, music or dance. True to Barowari style, the committee has arranged for an ekchala idol — in which Ma Durga and her four children are mounted on the same pedestal. The idol awaits adornment at the hands of Tapan Paul, at the New Ashok Nagar Kalibari.

USP: Heard about the dhunuchi naach, but never witnessed one? Grab a gallery seat here, but don’t get too comfortable — you may just find yourself wanting to join the dancers.  

 

Ma Durga idols wait to get their final touches at the New Ashok Nagar Kalibari 

 

The skeleton is up. It won't be long before this transforms into a dazzling tent for Ma Durga's homecoming