South Kolkata Puja committee to recreate their 1946 Puja

Every year, the big ticket puja committees of Kolkata surprise everyone with amazing thought-provoking themes. This year the Samaj Sebi Sangha, one of the biggest Puja committees in the Ballygunge neighborhood, is set to recreate the Durga puja of 1946. According to the organizers, it was the first time in 1946 that the committee did Durga Puja.

As India steps into the 76th year of independence, the committee has decided to incorporate a chapter from history as the theme of their pandal. The Durga Puja of 1946 was preceded by a commotion among the various sections of the society. According to the organizers, the founding members of the club had protected the marginalized people from the rampage after which the group took shape.

The committee has adopted 15-20 children from the marginalized groups who suffer to get access to basic education. The educational needs and mental well-being of the children will be taken care of by the committee. "These children were also part of the khuti puja and they’ll also be part of the inauguration of the pandal,’’ said Arijit Maitra, the pujo committee secretary. "Through this, we want to send out a message in brotherhood and communal harmony,’’ he added.

According to the organizers, the thought on the lines of recreating the Pujo of 1946 occurred to them because this year Shashti falls on October 1 which was also the case in 1946.

— Sundas Jawed