Housing complexes focus on women’s empowerment this yr
Times of India | 8 October 2024
Kolkata: Housing complexes across the city plan to stick to basic intra-community festivities, with a focus on women’s empowerment, while staying away from grand outdoor celebrations due to mixed response regarding the level of splendour in this year’s Durga Puja.
At South City, the organisers have done away with major outdoor functions like in earlier years and have tweaked the pandal — from a thematic concept to a traditional open structure.
They will also have performances by kids and residents, and some programmes by Kolkata-based artistes, staying away from gala musical nights.
“There were mixed views about the scale at which the puja was to be organised. Plus, there was a forecast of heavy rain during the puja days. These prompted us to scale down our festivities,” said Manoj Gupta, a resident of South City residential complex, adding that there will be songs, dances and plays highlighting how women rise, fight back, break free and reclaim their voices and dignity in the face of oppression.
Residents of New Town Heights, where the pandal will be inaugurated by monks of Ramakrishna Mission on Tuesday, said they are limiting their festivities to in-house cultural events along with multiple programmes on women’s safety. “The meetings to prepare the Durga Puja schedule took place days after the rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital, which left several residents angry and depressed. That is the reason we are focussing on issues related to women’s safety this Durga Puja. Our residents will stage plays focussing on the strength, resilience and triumph of women in different fields,” said Sameer Sharma, a puja committee member.
At Moon Beam Complex in New Town, the organisers said there will be no grand celebration, including any major charity event. “Residents will participate in the cultural events and community dining. We will also dedicate a song paying homage to Tilottama as part of our cultural programme on Shashthi evening,” said Subho Dasgupta, a resident of the complex.
Sonia Sengupta, the cultural secretary of 4 Sight Grand Castle at Mahamayatala in Garia, said they have lined up their puja celebrations with performances by children, relatives of flat owners and the residents themselves. “Most of our programmes will focus on women’s empowerment and will talk about women’s rights and issues. Through our programmes, we will also highlight social issues of equality, consent and freedom,” said Sengupta.