Crowded streets, serpentine queues at pandals and bumper-to-bumper traffic — the usual images associated with the heady days of Durga Puja in pre-COVID Kolkata could prove daunting even for the most seasoned of pandal-hoppers, leave alone the elderly.
Senior citizens, compelled to stay home because there is no one to accompany them or because they are wary of crowds and not-so-easy access to pandals, will now be taken on pujo parikrama by some organisations to ensure they can be a part of the festivities.
My Kolkata lists three organisations that care to bring joy to the elderly during Puja.
Dependablez
Formed in 2020, Dependablez specialises in elderly care throughout Kolkata and north Bengal. This year, the organisation has curated two pujo parikrama packages for the elderly — one on Ashtami (October 3, Monday) and another on Navami (October 4, Tuesday).
The first is a daylong tour of Hooghly’s Serampore Rajbari, where the Durga puja is 337 years old. Senior citizens will be able to offer pushpanjali and enjoy the rajbari bhog. The package will include a trip around the town and will cost Rs 2,400 per head.
The second is a daylong tour to Dakshin Garia Zamindar Bari in South 24-Parganas. The puja here is 357 years old. It is said that Warren Hastings visited this puja with his wife. The tour will also include visits to bonedi pujo of Haldar Bari, Baruipur Rajbari and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s ancestral house. Non-vegetarian lunch will be served. This pocket pinch will be Rs 2,500 per person.
Both the tours have been planned keeping in mind the safety and comfort of senior citizens. Air-conditioned buses will be provided where packed breakfast will be served along with bottled water and beverages. Nursing assistants, wheelchairs, medical kit, etc would be on standby. All COVID precautions will be adhered to.
Biplabi Barik, director, Dependablez, said: “We have selected two destinations away from the city to avoid the crowd and congested roads. This will be a comfortable tour for the senior citizens since they won’t have to walk much and can spend time enjoying. Also, these destinations have the more traditional kind of pujas and many of the elderly people have shown interest.”
To book a seat on any of the tours, senior citizens can call at 9163267000.
Ushor
Another charity organisation, Ushor, has been taking senior citizens and specially abled persons on pujo parikrama since 2012. The organisation has been formed by a group of enthusiastic professionals from various walks of life. Apart from pandal-hopping, the organisation also distributes new clothes to the needy.
Pujo parikrama by Ushor in 2019
UshorPandal-hopping was done away with in the pandemic years. But the organisation is reviving it. Biswadeb Mukherjee, one of the founding members of the organisation, said: “Our parikrama plans are not only for old-age homes or orphanages we tie up with. Lately, we have also started welcoming individuals who want to join us. Especially, aged people who might feel lonely and have no one to take them out. We are welcoming them to join us.”
The parikrama is usually a tour of popular puja pandals in the city. The organisation volunteers accompany the elderly and specially abled people in air-conditioned Volvo buses. First-aid kits and wheelchairs are also provided. The volunteers also take note of medicines individuals will have to consume throughout the day.
“We also speak to the groups in advance to understand their preference for the kind of food they would prefer. Accordingly, we tie up with restaurants. We want them to enjoy, so we think it’s necessary to give them options,” said Mukherjee.
This year, the organisation has decided to ferry the elderly in smaller vehicles so that volunteers can pay attention to each individual's needs. Also, any elderly individual or couple or groups who wish to join will have two options. They can either go with bigger groups or ask for private vehicles with volunteers. Private tour plans will also be available at an affordable cost.
Ushor conducts these city tours with the help of Kolkata Police and puja committees. To join a tour, call at 8240759782.
Jupiter Travels
Jupiter Travels is a travel agency based in north Kolkata that plans pujo parikrama across the city. This year, it is going to organise a tour on October 2 (Saptami) around bonedi bari pujos such as Sovabazar Rajbari, Darjipara Mitra Bari, Chhatu Babu & Latu Babu Durga Puja, Rani Rashmoni Bari Puja, Sabarna Roy Choudhury boro bari and Roy Choudhury bari.
Pujo parikrama in 2021 by Jupiter
Jupiter TravelsPacked breakfast and buffet lunch will be provided. The city tour is available to all for Rs 3,250. The travel agency will provide assistance to the elderly. First-aid kit will be available on-board and all COVID-19 precautions will be observed.
Air-conditioned buses will pick up and drop each passenger from/at nearby bus stops.
Jupiter tours can be booked at 9163040758.
