Stirred by Kol crime, city pujos focus on women safety

Mumbai: Shaken by the crime perpetrated on an intern doctor in Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College, certain Durga Puja organisers in Mumbai are drawing attention to women's safety at their venues.
Tuesday's inauguration of the Bengal Club Durgotsav in Shivaji Park reflected its theme of prevention of violence and crime against women. Spokesperson Joy Chakraborty said, "Given the prevailing condition in the country, we have taken up the UN Declaration to stop violence and crime against women.We have invited three NGOs, namely Saahas Foundation, which works with acid attack survivors, another called Sneha that rehabilitates women victims of violence, and a third named Serve With Shraddha, which oversees their economic empowerment. This NGO will be given a stall to sell their products. We are giving these NGOs a token amount to show support."
An acid attack survivor participated in Bengal Club's lamp lighting ceremony and NGO members held a performance. Chakraborty said, "Our pandal is designed in the colour orange as per UN recommendations in solidarity with these women. Our members are wearing orange badges and shawls. We have also installed a huge acrylic board or ‘Wall of Hope' where we are taking signatures from visitors. It is large — 10,000-12,000 people can sign."
At Country Club in Andheri's Veera Desai Road, Aikatan Cultural Association is celebrating its fourth Durga Puja. Spokesperson Saswati Deb said, "While rural Bengal and traditional folk art has been our Pujo theme so far, this year, we are focusing on justice for women. We will hold a special tribute to honour the victim of the R G Kar case in Kolkata. Art director Satyen Chaudhry has designed our pandal with the backdrop of a court scene where devotees of Maa Durga are pleading for social justice and empowerment for women."
Aikatan will organise bhog prasad for visitors from Oct 10-12. It has invited mime artiste Sujit Kumar Das, the ‘Covid Seva Warrior' from Kolkata, on Oct 10. Singer Supratip Bhattacharya of Bhattacharya of Bangla Sa Re Ga Ma Pa fame, and singer and classical dancer Anupriya Chatterjee will perform Oct 10 and 11, respectively.
Over at RNP Park in Bhayander East, the Banga Sangha Durga Puja has organised a workshop on women's safety by assistant police inspector Tejashri Shinde, in-charge of the local Bharosa Cell. Mandal chief Rathin Dutta said, "A group named Shiv Shambhu Mardani Akhada' will display the ‘Dandpatta' technique, a medieval form of warfare used by Maratha warriors. We will instill the spirit of self defence among girls and women."