 |
| June and Helen LaFave at Chetla Agrani Club |
 |
| The Abasar Sarbojanin Durgatsab Committee pandal |
 |
| Paoli Dam and Cesare Bieller strike a pose at Sammilita Lalabagan Sarbojanin |
 |
| Swastika Mukherjee and Saurav Ghosal with kids at Behala Buroshibtala Janakalyan Sangha |
 |
| Cesare drums up a beat for dancer Paoli at Tala Barowari |
 |
| Swastika, Saurav and Anwesha (Swastika’s daughter) at State Bank Park Sarbajonin |
 |
| June is the centre of attraction at Ballygunge Cultural Association. Pictures by Pabitra Das, Anindya Shankar Ray and B. Halder |
NORTH
● Kumartuli Park Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee, 8B, Abhoy Mitra Street, Kumartuli
Standing imperiously amid the god factory or the abode of artisans that supplies about every idol that graces puja mandaps in Calcutta and beyond is a dome-shaped pandal symbolising Tribhuban, the ancient concept of three universes comprising heaven, hell and earth.
“The base is made of steel while plaster of Paris brings up the facade,” said Atanu Saha, a committee member, on Tuesday.
In keeping with the ideals of the CESC The Telegraph True Spirit Puja, Saha said the puja has a first-aid centre, a 24-hour doctor-on-call, water dispensers and permanent toilets for pandal-hoppers. “We have two exit gates as well,” he added. The entry path has wooden planks laid on it but the exit could get messy, or rather muddy, in rain.
Star judge Paoli Dam’s verdict: “The structure could have been a bit more appealing. I think one should visit this pandal after dusk. They have played a lot with lights.”
●Tala Barowari Durgotsab, 23/2, Banomali Chatterjee Street
A flute-shaped bamboo structure in the middle of the pandal is an instant eye-catcher — a sharp contrast to the simple mandap. Music is the central theme of the puja and an orchestra of musical instruments is being used to decorate the pandal.
“We are playing on A Sur Bod (bringing harmony and music back to life), a musical gift to the people living amidst political turmoil and rising violence. Music has a soothing and calming effect on everyone,” said Abhishek Bhattacharya, the puja’s general secretary.
“We have spacious entry and exit paths. We are celebrating the 94th year of our puja, and so there’s 100 per cent participation from everyone in our para. We have 100 volunteers, private security, inverters to take care of power cuts and other facilities to meet the True Spirit parameters,” he added.
 |
Paoli’s observation: “Participation of young and old alike forms the basis of a north Calcutta pujo.”
● Sammilita Lalabagan Sarbojanin, Lalabagan Maidan, 88, Raja Dinendra Street
The country was in the cusp of British rule and freedom when the first puja was held here. It has adopted a theme Bhanga Gora Jeevan Bhora (loosely, a life full of destruction and creation) to showcase the vicissitudes of 21st century life.
“We’ve used tools of construction workers (to decorate the marquee). It’s our tribute to those workers who make modern living possible,” said Sanjay Chanda, the puja secretary.
Apart from fire extinguishers and CCTV cameras, the puja has a huge suction pipe for a unique purpose. “In case of a fire when the smoke alarm goes off, we will switch on the suction system (that works like a giant vacuum cleaner) to suck out the smoke,” Chanda said.
Paoli gushed: “Wow, I love the fountain at the entrance!”
● Tekiapara Sarbojanin Durgatsav Committee (Maniktala), Amherst Row
At 110, this puja has lost out on several True Spirit parameters. Expired medicines at the first-aid counter majorly disappointed the judges. “We have immediately replaced those medicines,” assured Abhijit Ghosh, the puja secretary. The pandal decor and the boat-shaped structure made of plywood and bamboo were disappointing too.
Paoli sighed: “Not happening.”
● Kashi Bose Lane Durga Puja Committee, 5/1, Kashi Bose Lane
True to the theme, Debir Mayay Alo Chhayay, the spacious pandal is well lit. “Non-toxic dye is used on our idol. We have 24-hour video surveillance, hosepipes to put out a fire, a soundproof generator and a babycare zone where mothers can nurse the young ones,” said Pradipta Nan, a committee member.
Paoli’s parting note: “Very spacious and nice.”
SOUTH
● 20 Pally Sarbojanin Janakalyan Samiti, Entally
The lane leading to the first stop on the southern leg of the True Spirit journey sets the tone for the pandal. Thermocol flowers hang from the trees and apartments in the neighbourhood, matching the interiors of the globe-shaped structure that holds the pantheon of deities. The reservoir in front of the pandal isn’t just part of the decor, it is the designated source of water should there be a fire.
Safety and aesthetics apart, the organisers have thoughtfully arranged for a wheelchair and set up a ramp for anyone with a physical disability. But they lose marks when it comes to crowd management and ease of access.
“This is undoubtedly a pretty puja in terms of decoration but I feel their entry and exit should have been wider. It is a bit claustrophobic inside the pandal,” said actress June, one of the True Spirit judges.
“It would be really interesting to see how they would pull the pandal and decorations down? When they take down the stuff they have stuck on the buildings, are they going to repaint them? Do they see it as important?” wondered Helen LaFave, the American consul-general.
She was also worried about the ramp. “Though the organisers said that their pandal was wheelchair accessible, I noticed that the ramp was very steep and had risers on it, which would make it incredibly difficult for a person with disability to use it,” Helen said.
● Jodhpur Park Sarodiya Utsab Committee, 1D Jodhpur Park
The rain was pelting down when the car carrying the judges stopped in front of this much-hyped pandal. Actress June didn’t even wait for an umbrella. She alighted from the vehicle, jumped over a puddle barefoot and almost ran into the pandal that looks like an ancient temple from outside but houses a modern 3D Durga.
In keeping with the theme “Notun o puronor mel bondhon (medley of old and new)”, the Jodhpur Park Sarodiya puja has a deity made out of 60,000 pieces of A4-sized paper. The 62-year-old puja also scores high on safety measures.
“We have sprinklers, extinguishers and a pump connected to the lake behind this puja so that water can be drawn in the event of a fire emergency. The pump is connected to the generator and not the main electricity line so that it can be used even when supply is cut off,” said Sumanta Roy, secretary of the puja committee.
If this Jodhpur Park puja lets itself down a bit, it is in terms of facilities for senior citizens and those with physical disabilities. The organisers have arranged for a wheelchair but the pandal doesn’t have a ramp to go with it.
The judges seemed to have mixed feelings at the end of the visit. “This puja is really innovative and has taken all the required measures for a safe celebration. What I didn’t like is that they have wasted paper. At a time when everyone is trying to save paper, I would have appreciated it more if they had made the deity out of old newspapers,” said June.
● Ballygunge Cultural Association, Jatin Das Road
“Futuristic” is the theme of this 64-year-old puja that takes visitors 25 centuries forward with a pandal made out of steel rather than bamboo and decorated with fibre, LED lights and aluminium. The deity is cast in lead-free paint.
The pandal may be a window to the future but the organisers haven’t lost sight of the present. Senior citizens and the disabled top the priority list in terms of facilities, the best part being a separate entry and exit for them. Seating arrangements have been made too.
“We have a team of 25 volunteers just to help senior citizens,” said Saptarshi Basu, secretary of the puja committee.
For medical emergencies, Ballygunge Cultural Association has two ambulances on stand-by and a doctor at the first-aid counter. A list of emergency phone numbers is available at the helpdesk.
● Chetla Agrani Club, Peary Mohan Roy Road, Chetla
The idea of a celebration embracing all religions is at the heart of Chetla Agrani Club’s endeavour. The entrance to the pandal has a stone Shivling and the shape of the main structure resembles a tomb from the Mughal period. The deity is placed on a cross and the interiors display intricate Buddhist artwork.
“We have chosen anandadhara bohiche bhubone (stream of happiness flowing through the world) as our theme and want everyone to come and join us in this celebration,” said Ayan Ghosh, a member of the club’s executive committee.
For the judges, what stood out was the puja’s adherence to the True Spirit norms, including four entrances and exits, wheelchairs, a ramp, an ambulance on stand-by, drinking water, CCTVs and various types of extinguishers.
“This pandal has everything in place. The open space will help them evacuate people if the need arises and they have more than enough fire extinguishers ready. The medical unit is also strong. Two wheelchairs, an ambulance and a doctor — they haven’t missed anything,” said judge June.
● Abasar Sarbojanin Durgatsab Committee, Townshend Road
Recycled household goods — from fans to benches — have been used to decorate this pandal that goes all out to prove its eco-friendliness. But what impressed the judges most was the organisers’ social commitment.
“We do social work throughout the year. We have donated Rs 20,000 to Little Sisters of the Poor and 10 wheelchairs to the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy,” said Basudeb Banerjee, joint secretary of the puja committee.
To prevent noise pollution, the theme music playing inside the pandal is stopped after 10pm. Mobile toilets, potable water for everyone and thoughtfully placed bins complete the True Spirit picture.
EAST
● Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha, A-33, Rajdanga Nabapally
The organisers stood undeterred under a huge umbrella in tearing rain to greet actor and True Spirit judge Abir Chatterjee. Inside a sprawling pandal, necks craned as the star judge checked the decor’s colour coordination playing with the lighting that focuses on the power of light to switch off darkness from the world. Overall, the puja lived up to the True Spirit expectations with impeccable medical facilities and wheelchairs.
“See, it stopped raining… light prevailed again,” said Nirmal Mukherjee, the committee secretary.
● Tangra Gholpara Sarbojanin Durgotsav, 4 Prabhu Ram Sarkar Lane
The beauty of black coal (yes, you read it right), the primary material used in the pandal, the idol and the décor for this 94-year-old puja left the judges in awe. The coal has been treated for the past two months to turn it into stone and non-inflammable. “A fire-resistant material has been sprayed over the entire structure,” said Pramathes Sen, the committee president. Presence of a star tested the committee’s crowd management because of the puja’s almost invisible, narrow exits.
Abir’s take: “Managing a rush at peak hour will pose a problem.”
● Rashmoni Bagan Kishore Sangha, 6/C Rani Rashmi Garden Lane
After countless photo-ops with their beloved Bomkesh, the para people let the judges test their pandal that showcases the goodness of recycling. But the puja lost True Spirit points at the entrance — a difficult slope, devoid of steps. Same with the exit: clumsy. Crowd management was poor but medical facilities and green washrooms were great.
● Dum Dum Park Yubak Brindo, 413 Dum Dum Park
Freshness welcomes the judges here because the pandal theme goes back to the fundamental — the triumph of good over evil — but Durga minus her weapons as an epitome of peace. The interior is strewn with shiuli. Although the narrow entrance and exit points made crowd management a bit difficult, the pandal is armed with safety equipment. An adjacent pond adds to the aesthetics and remains a ready water source in case of a fire.
● Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Club, 463 Dum Dum Park
The organisers greet their very own star with the quintessential beats of the dhak — the first since morning. The pandal follows the True Spirit rulebook to the T. Despite using tin foil and road-building material, the organisers of this 14-year-old puja have water-jacketed the pandal to keep it cool and curb accidents. The medical unit can perform mini-surgeries if necessary. The washrooms are green and clean.
Abir said: “They have always been this organised.”
BEHALA & HOWRAH
● 25 Pally Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samity, 32/A Harisava Street
A lotus flower gift greets actress Swastika Mukherjee and squash champion Saurav Ghosal (back in town with Asian Games medals), the True Spirit celeb judges, at this 70-year-old puja that showcases a narak theke swargo (hell to heaven) theme in its expansive pandal. The space gives the organisers ample room to manage the crowd effectively. “It was well laid out but there was no first-aid box. We saw some wheelchairs but couldn’t figure out a ramp,” said TSP judge Joyneel Mukherjee, group head, corporate communications, RP Sanjiv Goenka Group.
“We have a special insurance policy for people visiting our pandal,” said Somnath Sarkar, the puja’s executive public relations official.
Saurav was not impressed: “The ambulances are too far away.”
● Alipore Sarbojanin, 27/1A Alipore Road
Women clad in red-and-white saris welcome the judges, put tilak and offer roses. Swastika and Saurav loved the Durga idol but a muscular Ganesh amused the actress. “Some things shouldn’t change. I like a fat Ganesh,” she smiled. “A fit Ganesh!” Saurav quipped.
“We have kept sand buckets and fire extinguishers. We provide help to 600 students and 150 elderly people every year,” informed Satyajit Kotal, the puja’s cultural secretary.
● Behala Buroshibtala Janakalyan Sangha, Manmohan Banerjee Road
This Behala club scores highly on the True Spirit parameters. The air-conditioned pandal resembles a ship — a prop the club has picked to highlight river pollution, according to Rabin Mondal, the Sangha’s secretary. The club helps 350 students and organises health camps. The pandal is made of non-combustible polymers and has five emergency fire exits.
“The AC won’t let people suffocate inside the pandal. Unique concept!” said Joyneel.
●State Bank Park Sarbajonin Durgotsav, Panchanantala, Thakurpukur
Dhak beats pierce the air as the judges move into pandal that is a combination of a Rajasthan fort with Bankura art. The judges loved the idol while Swastika and Saurav tried their hand at the dhak. Afterwards, Saurav got his blood pressure checked. Swastika checked his pulse.
Ajay Majumdar, a committee representative, said the club has used bio-disposable toilets. Joyneel’s verdict: “It wasn’t adequate.”
● Alapani, 8 Tripura Roy Lane, Salkia, Howrah
A flower shower to the beats of the dhak and a salutary blowing of the conch shell ushers in the judges to the pandal of this 67-year-old puja. Intricate kantha-stitched patterns adorn the walls.
“We have varied social commitments such as distributing woollen garments to the poor every year and arranging blood donation and eye check-up camps,” said Biswajit Ghosh, the puja’s assistant secretary. An ambulance was parked outside the pandal.
“Drinking water was not available and the entry point was narrow. But the reception was grand,” Joyneel said.
