In sombre times, Kol pujas focus on spirituality and religiosity
Times of India | 4 October 2024
Kolkata: Spirituality and religiousness have emerged as the central themes of several Durga Pujas this year where the organisers said they have made a conscious effort to highlight the spiritual aspects of the festival, emphasizing the importance of devotion and inner peace.
Organizers said that by incorporating religious elements and traditional motifs, the pandals will seek to provide a profound experience for devotees and create an atmosphere that encourages introspection and reflection among the visitors.
“Durga Puja gives us a scope to raise our voice against all evil and narrate even the most relevant issues of our society through a beautiful visual representation at the pandals. It speaks for the society, for the people, for the soul. To speak for our soul, this year we are going with a theme named ‘Antarlok’, the mystic world which we only know by ourselves,” said Mousam Mukherjee, an official of Ch-altabagan Sarbojonin club.
The organisers have installed thousands of mirrors of different shapes and dimensions where devotees will be able to see their reflection as they enter the pandal.
“Durgotsav is one festival where no one is abandoned or cast out despite its worship of a Hindu goddess. It’s time to start looking inside our souls and re-evaluating ourselves, our good and our bad. It is the time to fight with our own inner evil. Our theme will take you to the world of your own soul, which will make you realize we are mere mortals and our time is too short to walk on a path of destruction,” said Mukherjee.
Organisers said a shift towards spirituality and religiousness reflects a growing desire among the puja organizers to reconnect with the roots of the festival. They hope that by focusing on these themes, they can inspire a sense of unity and devotion in the community.
“We will promote spirituality and the lost art of religious street theatre and drama using bohurupis — masked dancers efficient in mime and acting. There will be live dramas inside the pandal showcasing old religious tales of Gods and Goddesses,” said an organiser of Alipore Sarbojonin Puja committee in south Kolkata. The club has chosen ‘Sankalpa’ as the puja theme.
Hazra Park Durga Puja, celebrating its 82nd year, has chosen “Suddhi” — meaning purification — as the theme. “It is a reminder that while much progress has been made, the fight for equality continues. The puja will serve as an inspiration for those striving for a more just and equitable society,” said Sayan Deb Chatterjee, joint secretary of the puja committee.