A museum called Sangraha has been opened near Gate 4 of Eco Tourism Park. The exhibits were all part of the decor at 12 pandals at last autumn’s Durga puja. All 12 pujas had been selected as winners in the government’s Biswa Bangla Sharod Samman contest and taken part in the city’s first immersion procession of award-winning pujas on October 14. 

The chosen pujas are Badamtala Ashar Sangha, Hindusthan Park, Kolahal Goshthi, 41 Palli, Tridhara Sammilani, Barisha Club, Behala Friends Club, Kalighat Milan Sangha, Ultadanga Pallyshree, Ballygunge Cultural Association, Tallah Baroari and AK Block Association Sarbojanin puja of Salt Lake.

“The chief minister had herself picked some of the decor like the nut crackers of Hindusthan Park and string dolls of 41 Palli  from the dais of the immersion procession. While most have been placed in the museum with help from the puja artistes themselves, some others have been placed at other spots in the park,” said Hidco chief Debashis Sen.

The target, he said, was to preserve the artefacts for a year. “It will be a curated exhibition with a fresh set coming in next autumn so there is circulation of the exhibits preventing boredom to set in for the visitors,” he added.

Entry is free at the museum, situated just outside the ticketed area of Gate 4. 

A catalogue of the exhibits at the museum as well as in their original settings at the pandals has also been published and is on sale for Rs 50.

ARTEFACTS FROM LAST AUTUMN’S PANDALS HAVE TURNED INTO EXHIBITS AT ECO TOURISM PARK 

 

 

 

 

 

Text and pictures: Sudeshna Banerjee