City clubs promote social causes, spread harmony msg with Khuti Puja
Times of India | 15 July 2024
12 Kolkata: Messages of peace, harmony, inclusivity and equality are being adopted as themes for Khuti Puja across the city this year. While several Durga Puja organizers — who commence their puja preparations with the Khuti Puja ceremony — have involved multiple communities in the ceremony, others have invited ‘bohurupi’ artists and even pet dogs of the neighbourhood.
On Sunday, Bhowanipore 75 Pally on its diamond jubilee year, made a grand start of their puja with an interfaith Khuti Puja by inviting leaders from different communities which include Jain, Sikh, Parsee, Chinese, Christian, Sindhi, Muslim, Jew, Afghan as well as representatives from RKM and Baha’i communities.
62 Palli club of Bhowanipore which will be organizing its 52nd puja this year, took an initiative to support poverty-stricken ‘bohurupi’ artistes of Bengal during Sunday’s Khuti Puja. “It is an amazing experience to participate in my local Durga Puja’s Khuti Puja for the first time,” said Hayatullah Khan, an Afghan who lives at the adjacent Khan Kuti in Jadu Bazar Mosque. “Through Bengali’s biggest festivity we not only want to celebrate traditions, but also strengthen our bond with different communities,” said Subir Das, the club secretary.
Several Durga Puja organizers have involved Muslim community members during their Khuti Pujas this year. Even last year, the Baranagar Friends Association organized a symbolic Kumari Puja with a six-year-old Muslim girl as a part of their Khuti Puja.
This year, 71 Palli Baishakhi Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samity in Ballygunge involved the entire neighbourhood’s pet dogs during Khuti Puja. Dhakuria Sahid Nagar Sarbojonin through their Khuti Puja highlighted the daily life and adversities of domestic helps.
In the past, different Durga puja organizers of Kolkata used the Puja pandals as a platform to spread social messages by challenging the socio-cultural norms and taboos. Last year, Pathuriaghata Pancher Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav made their puja theme ‘ritumati’ to promote menstrual hygiene. Kashi Bose Lane Durgapuja Samity focused on women trafficking, while Shyambazar Pally Sangha portrayed the story of a surrogate mother through their puja’s central theme.