Every participant of Gulabi Gang performed enthusiastically for their Rathayatra programme but a mother-daughter duo performed twice.

Mousumi and Amisha Saha’s phone blared the song Kanha so jah zara but their screens blacked out. None of the others, tuned from their houses over video call, could catch a glimpse. “If time permits, we shall ask the duo to give a repeat performance,” said the moderator Mahua De Sarkar.

Gulabi Gang, a group by ladies from DB Block, usually celebrate Rathayatra at their community hall. “Every year, women take the lead in organising the procession and we celebrate the festival in a grand way. This year we found out alternative means of celebration,” said member Sonali Basak.

The show had begun with the Rinku Banerjee blowing the conchshell and chanting mangalacharan. Sampurna Das and Sambit Das, both tots, danced to Jagannath vandana.

Lakshmimoni Sen logged in from Bangalore, chanting Vishnu sahasranaam. Priyanka Niyogi presented Sabdam in Bharatanatyam and Indrani Basak, logged in from Delhi, spoke on the history and significance of the chariot festival focusing on the Rathayatra of Mahesh, as depicted by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay in the novel Radharani.

Panchojonyo, comprising members Mahua De Sarkar, Basak, Chandrani Mukherjee, Mou Dubey and Anjana Banerjee, presented Dashabatar Mahatwo, depicting the 10 incarnations of lord Vishnu. This piece was brought to life with the chorus chanting of the Upanishad sloka Om Purnamadah Purnamidam accompanied by dance performed by Mukherjee and Basak, depicting each avatar. Other members chanted slokas on the avatars with their description in Sanskrit and Bengali.

Officials of New Town Kolkata Development Authority, including chairman Debashis Sen (right), celebrated Rakhi Bandhan by tying rakhis to trees. Held at Neem Bonani, the event was meant to create a bond with trees Sourced by the Telegraph

“This event gives us a sense of freedom in the present suffocating environment and we are rejuvenated,” said Dubey.
“We members are active because of such events and are also getting tech-savvy,” added Anjana Banerjee.

Child artiste Sharanya Mitra danced to Woh Kisna hai, Ishani Das danced to Jai Narayan vandana with Odissi steps while her sister Jhupan sang along. “We equate Narayana with Jagannath and we paid tribute through the song. I’m especially happy that I could involve my four-and-a-half year old daughter Sampurna in the show and teach her about the lord.”
And finally, at long last, mother-daughter Mousumi and Amisha got a chance to once again dance to a song from Baahubali 2. This time there was no interruption.

Bharati Kanjilal

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