In Kolkata, this year’s Durga Puja has taken a somber turn as pandals across the city become powerful symbols of protest, reflecting public outrage over the horrific rape and murder of a young trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024. The incident, which shocked the nation, has left an indelible mark on the festive spirit of West Bengal’s most celebrated event.
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#WATCH | Durga Puja Pandal based on the theme of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, 'Lajja', built-in West Bengal's Kolkata pic.twitter.com/OIDU0OU3bE
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2024
One of the most striking examples of this shift is the theme adopted by the Shakti Sangh and other Durga Puja committees, such as “Lajja” (shame), which directly addresses the tragic incident. These pandals serve as a platform for raising awareness about women’s safety, highlighting the collective grief and anger over the failure to protect women, even in spaces as significant as medical institutions. The depiction of the theme “Suraksha na Atmaraksha” (Security or Self-defense) at the Shibmandir Puja Committee further underscores this message. With visual installations focusing on gender violence and self-protection, these pandals act as a public outcry for justice.
The Puja celebrations this year are not without their controversy. In response to the brutal crime, several committees, including Shakti Sangh and Apanader Durga Puja Committee, have taken a firm stand by rejecting the Rs 85,000 grant provided by the state government. They argue that accepting this money would dishonor the memory of the victim and be inconsistent with their calls for accountability from the authorities. “We are deeply saddened and hurt by the way a woman doctor was brutalized in the hospital. Therefore, given the incident, we have decided not to accept the grant,” said one committee member.
This year’s Puja has become a poignant expression of grief and resilience. The incident at RG Kar Medical College has sparked widespread protests, with thousands of people—students, medical professionals, and concerned citizens—gathering on the streets of Kolkata to demand justice. Many have expressed concerns that such heinous acts are becoming all too frequent, and the celebration of Durga, the embodiment of female power, feels hollow in the face of continued violence against women.
Despite these tragic undertones, the Puja pandals also offer hope. They call for systemic changes, with demands for better security for women in workplaces, including hospitals, and a reformation of policies to ensure women feel safe, even during night shifts. Many of these pandals will display slogans like “Astha rakhun, dodshider kathorotomo sasti habei” (Have faith in the law, the guilty will get exemplary punishment), reinforcing the belief that justice will be served.
The use of the Durga Puja pandals as a medium for protest is not new in Bengal, but the intensity of emotions this year—spurred by the RG Kar case—has lent a deeper meaning to the celebrations. This Puja season, Kolkata’s pandals stand not only as places of devotion but as public spaces of protest, demanding accountability, justice, and, most importantly, safety for women everywhere.
The celebrations, however, take a somber tone this year following the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder of a trainee doctor. This tragic incident has fueled widespread protests, leading several Puja committees to reject state funding in solidarity with the victim. Pandals, like the Shakti Sangh’s “Lajja,” highlight women’s safety and demand justice, transforming the festival into a powerful statement against gender violence.
Durga Puja Dates 2024
Durga Puja 2024 will be observed from October 19 to 24, with key days like Maha Ashtami (October 21) and Vijaya Dashami (October 24).