Written by Anisha Ghosh

The Dakshindari Youth Club, a puja committee in Kolkata, has decided to honour acid attack survivors this year. Instead of lights and decorations, the pandal will confront visitors with half-done structures covered in jute sacks justifying the name of their theme this year — ‘Dahan’, which translates into being burnt or the suffering after burn injuries.

Theme artist Anirban Das says: “When people see something beautiful, they can’t tolerate it and throw acid on it. That’s why the structures are covered in sacks, so that nobody can ruin them.”

The Durga idol will itself carry a striking symbolism. Its middle portion will be hollow, depicting the goddess as an expecting mother, inspired by Shuvo Dasgupta’s poem ‘Ami Shei Meye’.

Visitors will move through multiple doors of the pandal, where theatre artists will appear declaring “Ami Shei Meye” (‘I am that girl’). On one side, a stage will be set where acid attack survivors will stand and raise the same slogan.

“Across the pandal, we celebrate women’s beauty. We praise it, we worship it, we decorate it. Yet the same beauty is destroyed by people for their selfish motives. This theme is against that mindset,” Das said.

Work on the project in the South Dumdum pandal has been underway for the past three months, with a team of 70-75 artisans working daily. The organisers aim to complete the pandal by September 17, ahead of a preview show by MassArt.

Das said Durga Puja is not just devotion but also a platform against injustice. “Through this theme, I want to portray the struggles faced by acid attack survivors and reprimand such social crimes. Durga Puja allows us to connect directly with people, and this is the right place to send this message,” Das explained.

(Anisha Das is an intern with The Indian Express)