KOLKATA: Many of the city’s crowd-pulling
Kali Puja organisers are intentionally keeping this year’s event low-key, following the state government’s appeal on Tuesday, and in the wake of the example set by big-budget Durga pujas.
After a meeting at Nabanna chaired by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, state chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay had urged organisers and citizens to take several steps this year in view of the
pandemic. He had asked everyone to shun firecrackers, even legal ones, in order to keep pollution levels low; he had also asked organisers to construct ‘open’ pandals and shun immersion processions, saying similar measures during Durga Puja had borne positive results.
Taking this advice, organisers of some popular Kali pujas have decided to scale down, from inauguration to immersion. Besides Nabakali idols, one of the major attractions for
Janbazar Sanmilito Kalipujo has been a cultural extravaganza by Bollywood celebrities, which draws thousands and brings traffic to a halt every year. This year, the organisers have decided to cancel such events. “We have decided on a simple inauguration and cancelled all cultural functions to avoid large gatherings,” said Sandipan Saha, the puja committee’s working president.
Saha, KMC’s IT adviser, added that arrangements were being made with the police to discourage visitors from thronging the pandal.
Sitaram Ghosh Street in central Kolkata has a Kali Puja — the famous Phata Kestor Puja — that’s been a major crowd-puller for decades. Organizers Nabajubak Sangha have also decided to scale down their annual event because of the pandemic. Prabandha Roy, the president of the puja committee, on Wednesday made it clear that they would only stick to the traditional puja, shunning all other activities. “There will be the inauguration of the puja, minus the glamour. We won’t stage any cultural functions by celebrities to avoid a gathering because of this pandemic,” he said.
The organizers also said that that they would keep the front of the pandals open and mark an area for visitors to enforce social distancing norms.
Organisers of Amherst Street Kalipujo have also altered plans this year, scaling down on associated events, including cultural functions. One of the key members of the organizing committee said they wouldn’t encourage the fairs around the puja. “We have not only decided to scale down the events associated with the puja, but will also enforce strict pandemic norms for visitors,” said a member of the organizing committee.
Many of the bigger pujas in south Kolkata have cut down on the budget this year. At Kudghat, organizers of one of a famous Kali puja in Tollygunge have put on hold a three-day soiree that usually begins on the puja’s inaugural day. Biswajit Mandal, a KMC ward coordinator who also figures as an adviser in Purba Putiary Jubakbrinda Kali Puja Committee (popularly known as Bomer Pujo), said they would need to cancel all functions this year to abide by the pandemic rules, following the government’s recommendations. “We will save a portion of our funds, which will be used to aid pandemic-affected people,” Mandal said.