Puja theme traces the evolution of Bengali language
The Statesman | 20 September 2025The committee is celebrating the Puja for the 81st year in 2025. Chaltabagan is one of the most popular community Puja in the city.
The theme is very contemporary when the attack and humiliation of Bengali speaking migrant workers in different states has been strongly condemned.
The pandal is divided into four parts. In the fourth part, Ma Durga is seen teaching her children, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kartik and Ganesh. The art designer of the pandal is Pradipta Karnakar. As Chaltabagan is situated close to the house of Dwijendralal Roy, a half bust statue of the poet is installed inside the pandal.
Mausam Mukherjee, secretary of the Puja committee said the first part is based on the development and evolution of Bengali language. From Indo-Aryan language to the colloquial language in Magadh where there is influence of Sanskrit and Pali languages.
The second part is the movement for Bengali in east Pakistan in 1952. The movement led to the recognition of 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
The third part is associated with nostalgia over the first lesson one got in Bengali. Kids used to read Barnaparichoy to know the Bengali alphabet. Barnaporichoy was written by Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. For the children to know the language Ishwarchandra wrote short poems for every alphabet. Rabindranath Tagore wrote Sahaj Path to help Bengali children to learn Bengali through poems. Mr Mukherjee said the third part will take the visitors back to their childhood.
However, Bengali children now no longer read Barnaporichoy and Sahaj Path to learn the language.
Mr Mukherjee said the art design has been made in such a way that it will attract the visitors. Bengali language is the fifth most spoken language in the world. The National Anthem and National Song have been written by Rabindranath Tagore and Bankinchandra. Bengali is one of the sweetest languages in Asia.
