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The ‘anjali’ mantras are like a symphony: Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee

The multidisciplinary artiste finds melody in every aspect of Durga Puja

Every Bengali is born with an appreciation for good music. This particularly peaks during Durga Puja, as the festival packs in a wide variety of auditory experiences. For multidisciplinary artiste Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, the mantras chanted during pujor anjali are no less than a symphony. “It’s very unfortunate that the culture of going to the theatre for Durga Puja, that I grew up on, has died. Earlier, there was a huge public theatre culture in north kolkata. Thankfully, the artistic essence of the mantras has been preserved, which goes beyond just offering prayers. From the way we throw flowers at the goddess to the usual jhari mara around the pandal, everything is musical. And who can forget the sounds of the dhaak and pujor gaan?” said Sujoy.   

— Vedant Karia