Furthering a tradition of presenting new themes during the Durga Puja in Kolkata, pandals and idols depicting the lives of sex workers under the ‘Parichai’ (identity) theme have been created for the celebrations during this year’s festival. The pandal has been brought up by the Nawpara Dadabhai Sangh Puja Committee in the city, which was inaugurated by Lok Sabha MP and actor Shatrughan Sinha on Monday.
The preparations for the puja in West Bengal are in full swing, with new and innovative themes on display. The sculptors in Kolkata present various themes while preparing the Durga idols.
One such pandal showing the lives of the sex workers has been brought up, which also shows the society they live in and the way people see them, and the manner in which they remain anonymous in a different world without an identity.
In a first for the city, a silicon idol of Maa Durga has been installed in the pandal, which has never been seen before. The idol has been given the form of a mother, through which an attempt has been made to show that even a sex worker has the form of a mother.
Sinha said, “It is a boon by Maa Durga. The entire state of West Bengal is drenched in the colours of the festival. I have been coming to Durga Puja for years, but it is a matter of fortune for me that I am inaugurating this pandal. I am grateful to Saugata ji and Mamata Banerjee.”
The concept and theme designer, Sandip Mukherjee, expressed his perspective on the work of the sex workers and said that there is a need to bring about a change in the perspective of people.
“Prostitution is a profession, but for the common people, is it a profession? We can say which profession we are in, but can they say so? Because we see them from a different perspective. We should change this perspective. Our project is to bring about change in society. We corner them because of what they do. We do not let them enter society. Why can’t they come when they are also doing their job?” he said.
“We have attached the ambience of a mother in the idol which depicts the sex workers. We gave them the silicon form to make it attractive and touching to the people. This is for the first time that an idol of Maa Durga has been made of silicon,” Mukherjee added.
Describing the essence behind the pandal, he said that the sex workers’ lives have been displayed, which seems like a film when a visitor visits the place.
“If we see the pandal from the front, it will seem like a movie. The lives of sex workers have been displayed in the theme. I had this concept for many years, and presented it before other organisers, but they could not show the courage to give it a nod until this time,” he said.
Madan Mitra, TMC MLA, said, “The celebration is showing not only the pride of Bengal but also the magic of Mamata Banerjee.”
Anjan Paul, Organiser and Councillor Baranagar, said, “It was challenging for me to represent the theme. A lot of people are coming to see the pandal. I hope people in lakhs will throng the place in the coming days. I have made this pandal to give a message that they should be included in society. I do not collect money. Our target is to invest Rs 30 lakh in the making of the pandal. However, the exact number will be known only after the completion of the puja.”