Muted Diwali for Bowbazar's cave-in zone residents

On Saturday evening, Kamalkanta Das took a two-hour break from the paperwork at the subsidence spot in Bowbazar and visited Burrabazar to purchase material for Kali Puja.
Sourav Shaw went to buy candles and diyas for Chhoti Diwali and Diwali from Sealdah.
Several families displaced from Bowbazar, who are trying to adapt to their lives in hotel rooms, have decided to forgo Diwali celebrations, but are trying to make arrangements for rituals and the puja. While some are making arrangements in the hotel rooms, others will visit relatives to offer puja. Some people have also appealed to the administration for permission to visit their homes and offer a small puja, but permission has not been granted yet.
"We are not in a state to celebrate in such uncertain conditions. We have no clue about when we will return home and resume work as both our residence and shop are in the subsidence-affected zone on Madan Dutta Lane. We will not be celebrating Diwali, but will offer puja," said Sourav Shaw, a businessman from Basta Patti now staying in a central Kolkata hotel with his family. "Our deity is at home, so we have requested the local councillor and KMRC for permission to offer puja. But we have not received the permission yet," Shaw added.
Some families have bought candles and materials for puja. "It is not possible to organise a proper puja in the hotel room, but we will light some candles and offer a small puja," said Kamalkanta Das, a resident of 186, BB Ganguly Street.
Families who have relatives in the city have decided to visit them for the rituals. "We are busy with the paperwork for the hotel room. The mood is not festive, but we might visit an aunt's house in south Kolkata for a small puja," said Saptami Haldar, a resident of 186/1, BB Ganguly Street.