Yashika Goel
Sarbojanin Durga Puja in New Town will feature all-female teams of priests and dhakis (drummers). It is the first community Durga Puja in the satellite township, which is located on the outskirts of Kolkata to the northeast.
12 female drummers and 4 female priests
The priests, dhakis, and performers for the puja, which will emphasize “Mother Bengal” and women’s empowerment, will all be female.
“All four priests of the puja are women, as are the 12 ‘dhakis’ and roughly a dozen performers of ‘Dhunuchi Naach,'” said Samaresh Das, the secretary of the Durga Puja committee.
To honor the Goddess Durga, a dance called Dhunuchi Naach is performed during the evening aarti. Dancers in this performance balance clay bowls with charcoal, coconut husk, and powdered incense in their mouths and on their hands as they move to the rhythm of “dhaak.”
The Puja’s theme
The puja will feature traditional art and culture from the region and is centered on “Banga Janani” (Mother Bengal).
“The theme is a collage of various West Bengali handicrafts. Manasa Ghot, Chhau masks, dokra and terracotta objects, wooden dolls, and clay artwork have all been used. Traditional idols will be used, according to artist Prasanta Pal.
Puja According To Vedic Rituals
The puja will be conducted by priest Dattatriya Ghoshal, who has been ordained since 2018. She stated that the puja would follow traditional Vedic customs.
Inside the Puja
Around 100 food stalls will be set up on the premises. “In the township, there are numerous apartment buildings and residential complexes, and residents take part in the Durga Pujas that are hosted in each of them. We thus believed that they shouldn’t be overwhelmed “explained Das.
There will be between 150 and 200 volunteers during the puja. At the pandal, free food will be served to them and their family members.
Durga Puja in Kolkata has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The largest festival celebrated in Kolkata is called Durga Puja. The city presents a fresh concept to the Durga Puja pandals every year, and each one is distinct and creative in its own way.
For the first time in Asia, Kolkata’s Durga Puja was included in UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2021.
The news was tweeted by UNESCO, “Kolkata’s Durga Puja has recently been added to the list of intangible cultural heritage. India, congratulations.” Additionally, they included a picture of the goddess along with the hashtag “living heritage.”
