‘Puja, stir can co-exist’: Organisers keep an eye on renewed protest
Times of India | 2 October 2024
Kolkata: On the eve of Mahalaya, Durga Puja organisers, immersed in last-minute preparations, seemed anxious about completing pandals ahead of the Tritiya deadline as well as the possibility of street protests coming in the way of pandal-hopping.
Organisers of some of the biggest crowd-pullers, such as Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani and Tridhara Akalbodhon, pointed out their sole focus was on completing the pandals and decorations on time and that they had not thought about the street protests, on which “they did not have any control”.“We don’t think there will be any conflict between protesters and pandal-hoppers. The two can co-exist without stepping on each other’s toes. If any issue does crop up, it is for police to deal with,” said Samir Ghosh of Chetla Agrani, which has mayor and minister Firhad Hakim at its helm.
A two-minute drive from Chetla is Suruchi Sangha, patronised by minister Aroop Biswas. Here, too, organisers claimed they were buried under work and that street protests over the past month-and-a-half were not an immediate concern. “We want people to step out and walk freely, be it protesters or revellers. We are opening on Tritiya and expect a good turnout like every year. Just as we are not against justice for the doctor who was killed, those protesting are not against Durga Puja,” said Suruchi Sangha general secretary Kingshuk Maitra.
But Tridhara Akalbodhon — the south Kolkata puja associated with MMiC Debashis Kumar — has cancelled the Mahalaya Prabhat Pheri as well as Bijoya Sammelani held within a month of the puja. “We have toned down the celebrations, keeping people’s sentiments in mind. Durga Puja is for everyone. During these four-five days, the city immerses itself in celebrating the Goddess. We believe it also resolves differences,” said Gargi Mukhopadhyay of Tridhara.
While organisers in south Kolkata are more measured in their reaction, those in north Kolkata, where streets are narrow, said protests could cripple vehicular and pedestrian movements. “If protesters cause a hurdle for people wanting to visit pujas, the tide of popular support for the movement may turn. Organisers of protest movements should have a rethink during the festival,” said Saswata Basu, secretary of both Hatibagan Sarbojanin and Forum for Durgotsav, the platform of some of the major Durga Pujas in the state.
Gautam Neogy, general secretary of Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durgotsav, which holds a special place for the traditional idol and the rituals, also expressed a hint of disapproval at protests that disrupt the city during the biggest festival. “No one has impinged on the rights of protesters so far. We hope they will respect the sentiments of people associated with Durga Puja and not do anything that poses a challenge for people wishing to visit pandals,” he said.