How are Kolkata’s Durga Puja themes weaving festivities with the call for justice?
The ‘Lajja’ themed Durga Puja pandal has a goddess who is putting her palms across her face, symbolising maa is ashamed over a society where the woman's safety cannot be guaranteed.
Durga Puja is here, and Kolkata is again alive with excitement, vibrant decorations, and a strong sense of community spirit. Yet, this year brings a heavy sadness after the tragic rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. While we celebrate, we must also face the harsh realities that urge us to rethink our ideas about safety, justice, and empowerment.
The themes of this year’s Durga Puja speak to the need for social change and demand for justice.
Shibmandir Lake Temple Club pandal
This Club has chosen the theme “Suraksha na Atmaraksha” (security or self-defense). This message about self-defense resonates deeply in light of recent events. Young people will show life-saving techniques on the way to the marquee where the goddess will be placed. This theme encourages us to discuss women’s safety, an issue that has long been ignored but now demands attention during our celebrations.
Bagha Jatin Vidyasagar Central Sarbojonin
The message of strength also comes home with the pandal theme at the Bagha Jatin Vidyasagar Central Sarbojonin. The idol artist, Sanatan Dinda, is making “improvisations” to the idols. The Bagha Jatin idol now features a lion’s face sculpted from Durga’s chest, representing strength and resilience, according to Dinda.
He said “While the theme of the puja is anti-war – ‘Tora juddha kore korbi ki ta bol’ – I have altered the look of the idol, in keeping with the RG Kar protests,”
He added “Over the last few years, I had moved away from Durga’s aggressive posture and turned her into ‘Gouri’, or a girl of the house without her weapons. This time, I have gone back to her traditional warrior image and given her a trishul (trident) in every arm, reflecting anger and the need to fight back.”
The artist has returned to a traditional warrior look for Durga, reminding us that we cannot stay silent when there is injustice.
Bhawanipore 75 Pally puja pandal
Here the theme, “Kolkata abar Kollolini hobe” (Kolkata will once again be joyful), serves as a call for action. The demand for justice reflects our city’s current mood, filled with protests and demands for accountability and punishment that will eventually result in peace. By showing Maa Durga with many angry faces, this puja highlights that we can’t just be silent in the face of injustice. Their message, “Astha rakhun, dodshider kathorotomo sasti habei” (Have faith in law, the guilty will get exemplary punishment), encourages everyone to believe that justice will prevail.
The theme has been changed to align with the current air of protest. ”Here, too, I have moved away from the theme of placid joy to that of conflict and fight for justice. There will be multiple faces of Durga, reflecting anger. Having undergone a complete makeover, the idol is now being put together at a workshop,” Dinda said.
Santosh Mitra Square puja pandal
Here the theme is: The Sphere from Las Vegas, but they have not stepped down from the protest against RG Kar case. With chants of “We Want Justice” ringing out, this puja shows us that Durga Puja is not just a festival but a platform for change.
Sajal Ghosh, general secretary of Santosh Mitra Square Puja in central Kolkata, stated“In a slightly changed plan, our spherical pandal will be a symbol of protest against injustices to women. In lighting arrangements, a large flame can be seen along with three-dimensional images of protests,”
The ‘Lajja’ themed Durga puja
The ‘Lajja’ themed Durga Puja pandal has a goddess who is putting her palms across her face, symbolising maa is ashamed over a society where the woman’s safety cannot be guaranteed. Contrary to the orthodox Durga where ten hands are visualised having weapons in each of the ten hands, this image depicts her hands extended and empty. In front of the goddess is a figure of a woman, presumably the victim ‘Abhaya’, while her lion vigilantly guards her. Besides the goddess is a doctor’s apron.
However, this particular idol will not be worshipped; a separate traditional idol has been placed at the pandal for the puja.
The secretary of the puja committee explained that this pandal, named “Lajja” (shame), draws inspiration from recent murder cases in the state. He noted, “inspired by all the murder incidents here in the state…The pandal shows that rape and murder incidents are taking place in the state and goddess Durga is ashamed of this therefore she has closed her eyes.”
“We want to show the loopholes of the state government, the atrocities they do on the women in the state, the corruption they have done in the state…We have shown it,” he further added.
A comparison of themes from the previous years
Over the years, Durga Puja has evolved from a purely religious festival to a platform for addressing various social issues, with an increasing number of pandals focusing on women’s safety and justice.
In 2023, the Kashi Bose Lane pandal stood out with its theme based on crimes against women and children. It displayed posters and artworks to raise awareness about these atrocities and heinous crimes against women and children.
The pathuriaghata pandal took the unique theme centred around menstruation symbolically by breaking through societal taboos and highlighting female sufferings. The Pandals showcase everything, from pads to women suffering from cramps.
In a city rich with tradition, connecting Durga Puja themes to current issues reminds us that our celebrations are connected with our realities. The spirit of Maa Durga represents strength and resilience: The qualities we need as we face social injustices. This year, while enjoying the festivities the city has not forgotten the brutal rape and murder of a women doctor on duty but has ensured that these themes and voices resonate as loudly as the beats of the dhak.
Durga puja beyond Kolkata: Celebration across India
The Bengali Club, an organisation as old as 100 years, came out in strength in the support of the victim hailing from Kolkata. Arun Kumar Banerjee, president of the Bengali Club and Young Men’s Association, stated, “As it had happened with the Nirbhaya incident in Delhi, the heinous nature of the crime at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has made us stand up to demand justice. If Maa Durga represents women power, it would be a crime if we do not seek justice for one of her daughters when we get together to worship the eternal mother.”
Shankar Bhowmik, general secretary, Bengali Club, Shivaji Marg said that they will play Arijit Singh’s song “Aar Kobe (if not now, when?)” at their pandal to express the growing frustration over persistent crimes against women.
In Lucknow, a Puja organiser remarked, “Abhaya or Tilottama, as the RG Kar victim is now called, has become a symbol of the brutalization of women. Protests from Kolkata to Lucknow and beyond send out a strong message that ‘enough is enough’ and that society needs to rise in anger demanding justice for these crimes.
Durga Puja in Bangladesh
Just like in Kolkata, Durga Puja is one of the major festivals for Hindus in Bangladesh. However, this year, celebrations may be hindered due to warnings from radical groups.
The Insaf Keemkari Chhatra-Janta is protesting open celebrations, particularly targeting idol worship and immersion, even holding demonstrations in Dhaka’s Sector 13 against the use of a playground traditionally let out to the Hindu community for the festival.
Members came bearing placards carrying messages like “No worship anywhere by closing roads” and demanded that Durga Puja Day be dropped from the list of national holidays, since Hindus form less than two per cent of the population. The group has also demanded curbing of government support for the festival and elimination of temples they claim were built on occupied land.
As tensions escalate, the Hindu community in Bangladesh faces challenges that may overshadow their celebrations this year.
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