Kolkata: The nine-feet tall Chorbagan Durga idol is set to be immersed after police had asked the decorators to open up a portion of the entry gate in order to allow the idol to be taken out for immersion.“The exit route is the scene of the stampede and needs to be preserved at any cost,” explained an officer.“The height of the entryway was increased so the deity can be moved out without any difficulty. First, the iron mesh-like structure at the entrance was removed. The front portion of the VIP gate was also cut with iron-cutting tools. The Durga idol at Chorbagan is 9 feet tall, so the passage is being raised to nearly 12 feet accordingly. This is the instruction issued by the investigation committee,” said another officer.Earlier KP commissioner Ajay Nand claimed that the organising committee had approached them seeking permission for immersions.Elsewhere, silent processions, candlelight tributes and subdued celebrations marked the immersion of several pujas across the city.Several pujas in Kolkata and Howrah, meanwhile, toned down their immersion celebrations to pay tribute to the victims. From silent processions and candlelight tributes to condolence messages on social media, committees expressed solidarity with the bereaved families as the city grappled with the loss of lives.Youth Association, which organises the Durga Puja at Mohammad Ali Park, held a “silent visarjan” on Friday evening. There were no dhaks, bands or other symbols of celebration as committee members and others marched towards Babughat for the immersion in a simple and solemn procession. “We have tried to pay a small tribute to the departed souls and express solidarity with the bereaved families,” said Surendra Sharma, general secretary of the puja committee.At Kashipur Tarun Dal in Dasnagar, Howrah, committee members and locals walked in the immersion procession carrying candles. “We are deeply pained at what happened at Chorbagan. The immersion procession is generally very celebratory, but this time we did not play any dhak or band,” said Bapi Das, a member of the club.At Santosh Mitra Square, organisers screened a video tribute to the victims on a giant screen accompanying the immersion procession on Friday night. “We have paid a short tribute to the victims of Chorbagan tragedy,” said a member of the committee.The impact was also felt in neighbourhoods closer to Chorbagan. Soon after the stampede on Saturday evening, several smaller pujas in the area switched off their microphones. Many subsequently resumed using them at lower volumes as a mark of respect.At a puja on Basak Bagan Lane, organisers restricted the music to religious songs during the rest of the puja days, “Whe mood was not celebratory. We performed the religious rituals, but the enthusiasm was missing,” said Mohan Kedia, joint secretary of the committee.The grief extended beyond the immediate neighbourhood. From College Square and Kumartuli to Ballygunge Cultural and Rajdanga, committees posted condolence messages on social media, expressing their sorrow over the loss of lives.The stampede inside the Chorbagan pandal on Oct 17 claimed 19 lives, turning the festive occasion into a tragedy. The incident also brought the organisation and management of the puja under scrutiny. The committee had undergone a change in leadership a few weeks before the festival, and the new office-bearers “lacked prior experience in managing large festival crowds”.
