Dirty as Ganga

The water in the make-belief Ganges at BJ Block got visitors thinking. An elderly gentleman refused to believe the water had been poured intentionally. “This ground is a park. I’ve come here before. There was never any water here,” he said to his son. “But it rained so much last night that that this corner has got filled with water.”

There were children throwing tantrums wanting to take rides in the boats. CD Block’s Anirban Roychoudhury could make out why: “The water is as dirty as in the real Ganga, hence it is so believable.”

Mud & molesters

While the intention was noble, the execution of the anti-rape theme at FD Park failed to hit bullseye. Between avoiding slipping in the muck and appreciating the massive Durga idol, visitors either missed the figurines of men trying to grab women or failed to comprehend it all.

Those pandal-hopping with their families found it awkward to discuss the theme; others looked away to avoid embarrassment. “I noticed the statues of the molesters but the statue of Durga killing them wasn’t prominent. I hope it doesn’t inspire visitors to eve tease,” said Asha Sethia, a housewife from Bangur Avenue.

The mud in FD Park (picture top left) was a huge bother for pandal-hoppers. The area in front of the idols was the worst-hit, with footwear getting stuck at every other step and rims of trousers and frills of dresses getting sogged. “FD ebar kada-y first hoyechhey,” grumbled one.

Saradindu Chaudhury

Name the lady

At CJ Park, in the midst of statues and paintings of Sri Chaitanya, visitors spotted the statue of a woman in a white sari sitting behind a man who lay on the ground (picture above). These figurines sparked a debate. “This is Behula,” said a middle-aged visitor, folding her hands in devotion. “No, I think it’s Savitri,” said her friend. “Yes, it could be…” tailed the first lady. “Anyway let’s bow our heads to whoever this is and she will bless us.” And the duo happily moved on to see the rest of the displays.

Many of the organisers were no less confused. “Perhaps that is Sati,” ventured one.

For the record, the figure is of Savitri, confirms artist Swapan Pal.

Guitarist devi

A three-year-old was being shown the idols at AE (Part II) puja by her aunt. “This god with the elephant face is Ganesha,” began the aunt, but little Vanshika Paul of CD Block was not interested. Pointing to the Saraswati idol, she popped: “Who is that aunty holding a guitar?”

As the aunt tried to explain why Saraswati carried a veena, the song Tomay hrid majhare rakhbo began playing in the background. Though the lyrics were difficult for the child to follow, she began humming it on their way out. Only, the words she sang were Tomay Big Bazaar-ey rakhbo!

Eggstacy and agony

When little Gaurab Mullick walked out to the second floor verandah of his BB Block home on Sashthi morning, his eyes lit up at the sight of two giant eggs placed atop the local pandal across the road. “Ma, I want to eat a poach made of those eggs,” the four-year-old wailed. “After the Pujas, son,” his mother promised, in order to appease him. The theme of the pandal, incidentally, was bird’s nest and the eggs were part of the decoration. But on Ashtami evening, a storm raged across the township, dashing Gaurab’s fancied eggs and his hopes of a treat (picture above before and after storm).

Counting challenge

lEvery child that walked into AE (Part I) pandal was in for a math test. Like most of them, six-year-old Arpit Nandi started counting the idol’s hands, putting his newly acquired skill to use: “One, two, three, four…”. But the goddess here had 18 hands (picture above) and once our little master reached 10, he was out of his depth and ran out of count. Instead of 11, he used the only other number he had heard of — 100. But quick to challenge him was his neighbour Aratrika Ghosh, a year older to him and hence with advanced counting skills. The result? A furious fight between (mathematical) right and wrong that had their mothers scurrying to separate the two.

Sense of a theme

A middle-aged couple entering the BH Block pandal stopped abruptly at the tree installed outside. The woman joined her hands and bowed her head but her husband called out: “What are you doing? This is just a tree.” His wife snapped back: “Arey, you won’t understand theme pujas these days. Look, this tree is Durga.”

She pointed at the branches of the tree and said they were symbolic of the goddess’s hands. There was a Shiva linga at its base which bolstered her belief. After all, in this age of women’s liberation the husband can always change places from atop the wife’s head to her feet! And there was a shower-like device spraying water from behind the tree that the lady explained was the Ganga. The husband believed it and joined her in prayer and were about to leave when bystanders told them that the idol lay ahead.

Dance along

lAt the AA Block pandal, many visitors, especially children, were getting fooled by the live models that stayed in the act transfixed for minutes together (picture below).

Picture by Sudeshna Banerjee

But soon the stillness was facing competition from a circle of motion in attracting the attention of the visitors. Three girls from the same troupe were dancing to tribal songs. And following them, step by step, was a four-year-old. People stood and watched the spectacle, some took pictures, passed comments but nothing diverted Anisha Saha (picture above right). Watching with an indulgent smile on his face was father Saikat. “My daughter is crazy for dance. On Sashthi, she danced with others in the block wearing a sari. On Saptami, there was no cultural programme but she got on the empty stage and started dancing by herself,” the AA Block resident said. Anisha’s devotion earned praise from the dancers too. “We have performed at many festivals but never have had anyone dancing along with us,” laughed Priya Chakraborty, one of the trio.

Poll stall at pandal

lSome pandal-hoppers entered FD Park with their voter IDs. The Election Commission had set up a stall at FD Park and residents were free to come get any errors on their Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) cards corrected.

“Over 80 people have come to us so far,” said the duty officer on Navami afternoon. “They are coming to rectify mistakes in their spelling, address, date of birth etc.”

The booth was open from 11am to 3pm and was equipped with a laptop, printer, hologram stickers and a lamination machine. Residents who came furnished with all documents were getting their new cards made and delivered in 20 minutes.

“I’ve been meaning to rectify my EPIC card for the last three years,”said Ayan Biswas, who had come from Labony Estate. “My date of birth was incorrect there but I could never find time to make rounds of government offices. So I promptly came to this pandal and I’m most impressed by their efficiency,” smiled the man, new card in hand.

Picture by Sudeshna Banerjee