There was a tabletop Durga sculpted by a student, there was stotrapath, dhunuchi dance and even a beat box version of dhak. The pre-puja celebration by Subhas Bose Institute of Hotel Management (SBIHM) was the perfect precursor to the autumn festival.
The event was held at the campus near Biswa Bangla Gate and on stage was a cute 2ft Durga, crafted by Amiya Mondal. “It’s made of clay. I have been watching sculptors at work from a young age and have learnt from them,” said the student who was wearing a white kurta that he had himself painted a Durga on.
Debayudh Bhattacharya recited portions of Chandi for about 10 minutes. “I’ve never consciously sat to memorise the verses but I’ve heard it so many times from my father that I’ve come to learn it. It’s like how you internalise the lyrics of a song you like without much effort,” said the boy who performs Saraswati and Ganesh puja at home.
Agneesh Bhattacharya, a drummer with a rock band, did a take on the dhak, in beat boxing style. “I’ve not just heard but also played the dhak at pandals and so I know how to mimic it,” said the boy who likes to spend Puja jamming with musician friends at Maddox Square.
The function had its share of dances and a Puja-themed fashion show too. Anumoti Kundu took part in the dhunuchi dance contest. “I am a Bharatnatyam dancer but this is a different ball game,” she said. “There’s smoke, your hand gets fatigued holding the dhunuchi up for so long and there’s the risk of stepping on the burning coir that falls to the ground. The contest was held without the coir but later we’re doing the real thing in a segment in the fashion show.”
“Kolkatans love the Pujas so much that we constantly look excuses to extend the celebration,” said CEO of the SBIHM group, Bidisha Sarkar. “This event was a build-up to the festival and a chance for students to enjoy together.”
