Salt Lake’s pandals plan to turn spotlight on Bangaliyana
Times of India | 15 September 2025
Kolkata: A number of puja pandals in Salt Lake will have ‘Bangaliyana' as the theme this year, highlighting Bengali language, literature and culture. This comes in the backdrop of CM Mamata Banerjee starting a language movement to defend Bengali identity.
The theme for BL Block's puja this year is Bengali language and culture. "This year, we are paying tribute to the luminaries and individuals who have enriched Bengali language and culture. This is because the use of our mother tongue is gradually declining, and the new generation is almost withdrawing from discussing and practising Bengali — a matter of deep concern for all of us," said BL Block Durga Puja Committee secretary Kunal Biswas.
"Luminaries and parts of their work in Bengali will be put up as part of decorations. Some cultural programmes have also been lined up, which will reflect Bengali language, culture, and traditions," Biswas said.
On the 43rd year of their puja, FC Block Sarbajonin Durgotsav Committee is celebrating the richness, inner strength, and variety of Bengali literature. "Our theme this year is ‘Mangal Kavyas'. ‘Annadamangal', in particular, has been chosen to spread awareness among common people, especially the new generation, about the gems of Bengali literature in the medieval period.
The ‘Mangal Kavyas' represent a prominent genre of Bengali language and literature, and document Bengal's medieval history that was developed for roughly over 1,400 years in the eastern part of today's India and Bangladesh — as part of Bengal's cultural heritage," said Nilanjan Brahma, secretary of the puja committee.
Along with the language, some pujas will have themes to showcase Bengal's culture and heritage.
The AE Block Part I puja will celebrate Bengal's ‘Tant' industry.
"Tant is a special kind of textile that has intricate craftsmanship. It embodies the rich cultural heritage and tradition of Bengal. The pandal will showcase everything, including how a thread is woven in a charkha with intricate design to make a ‘tant' saree. Some specially designed sarees will be put up as decoration," said Supriyo Chakraborty, secretary of the puja committee.
The puja at BE Block (West) has always reflected the spirit of a traditional Bengali puja. "Our tagline has always been Bengali tradition, aristocracy, and culture. The pandal will resemble a ball of grain," said puja committee joint secretary Anupam Kundu.