The recent spurt in communal tension west of the Hooghly has made residents of CA Block in New Town take up a fresh initiative. To welcome the Bengali New Year, they will bring out a Mongol Shovayatra on the lines of those witnessed in Bangladesh, in which neighbours from all communitites will take part.
“The tradition of mongal sovayatra started in 1989 as an apolitical mark of protest against the military ruler H.M. Ershad to project a secular face, conceived by Dhaka University students. It is a colourful practice and is all about music and poetry. On this side of the Indo-Bangla border, we have never had any situation even after the destruction of the Babri mosque. The recent flare-ups in Howrah and Rishra have got the women of our block worried. Ki emon holo er modhye je Banglar samprodayik sompriti noshto hobar chinta korte hochchhe (What new development has taken place in Bengal that we are suddenly having to worry now about our communal harmony)? This is our attempt to send out a message of unity, especially in this month of Ramzan,” said Biswadip Bhowmick, secretary of New Town CA Block Cultural Association.
“We do not want the atmosphere vitiated in our area where both Hindus and Muslims stay happily side by side,” he added.Bhowmick grew up in Falguni Abasan, the second oldest housing estate of Salt Lake. “In those days we could see Jheelmeel from our house as there were few structures in between. We had a total of three shops inside the complex — a ration shop, a milk depot and a grocer shop that we called Mamar Dokan. He happened to be a Muslim. On Poila Baisakh, he used to give out packets that were coveted by us all. I don't know whether he believed or practised the haal khata ritual too. I hope such figures continue to be a part of our lives,” he said.Women of the block are making birds as origami items while Chhau masks will be procured from makers. All this will be carried by participants at the rally. Four dhakis will accompany the procession.
“We are expecting 250-300 people,” said Bhowmick. The procession will start from our Durga Puja ground, make its way to Biswa Bangla Gate and come back to the same spot, singing songs and reciting poetry all the way.
