Kolkata: Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata have brushed aside views and comments made by visitors to the state who are alien to Bengal’s tradition and culture and the manner in which Durga Puja has been celebrated for over four centuries. The baroari or community puja in Kolkata has been held for over a century.Kajal Sarkar of Bosepukur Sitala Mandir that created a sensation in 2001 when it decked up the pandal with thousands of clay cups said the comments appeared to be an attempt to provoke people before the festival that has always been organised and celebrated harmoniously.“The people who are making these comments have not witnessed what Durga Puja in Kolkata is like. How can they come and preach to us about a festival that has become the talk of the world after being inscribed in the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021? I urge them to come to Kolkata during the puja, try pandal-hopping with the crowd and experience the enthusiasm,” said Sarkar, who is the secretary of the puja at Kasba‘s Bosepukur as well as a functionary of the Forum for Durgotsav, an umbrella organisation of all major Durga Pujas in the city.At New Alipore Suruchi Sangha, which is led by BJP’s Dum Dum MLA Saurav Sikdar this year said, they will have non-vegetarian food served during the community lunch at the club during Nabami and even listed out the menu comprising mutton, hilsa and prawn.“In Bengali culture, Durga Puja is incomplete without good food. And when it comes to good food majority of Bengalis go for non-veg options. There will be no bar on non-veg food here. On Ashtami, we will have vegetarian food but there will be absolutely no restrictions on other days,” said Sikdar.At Maddox Square that has for over eight decades been a big draw despite its refusal to be drawn into the theme race, Ballygunge Puja Samity management secretary Ranjit Chakraborty said the comments were of ‘zero’ value to Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata.“We will do the puja as we always have. All pujas are held with devotion. No puja pandals allow food items inside it, be it veg or non-veg. Believers come to pay obeisance to the Goddess. Others come for a session of adda. Some join in for a spontaneous dance when the dhaks’ play,” recounted Chakraborty.Forum secretary and Ballygunge Cultural president Anjan Ukil said the comment on non-vegetarian food at Durga Puja pandals only portrayed the lack of knowledge about how the festival is celebrated in Kolkata. “No food is allowed inside the pandals, be it veg or non-veg. Food stalls are set up only outside,” said Ukil.While Singhi Park assistant secretary Prasanta Sarkar isn’t surprised by the comments, he said most organisers have ignored the gibberish because they don’t mean anything. “Customs and traditions of north India cannot be imposed on Durga Puja in Kolkata, just like we should not try to enforce the customs that we follow on others,” he said.Saswata Bose, treasurer of the Forum and secretary of Hatibagan Sarbojanin, too, echoed him. “Let’s not pay heed to what others say. We know what Durga Puja is and how it is to be celebrated. The CM has told us to go ahead and ensure that the puja is held in a grand manner and we will do just that,” he said.Forum president Sandipan Banerjee pointed out that rituals have always been followed at Durga Pujas and it will be no exception this year. “The pujas this year will be no different than the ones that have been held in the past. I am sure it will delight those who have not seen it before,” he added.Kanak Debnath of Sreebhumi Sporting Durga Puja said they will have non-veg food counters and will serve non-veg food among members on majority of puja days barring Ashtami.“The BJP or the govt has never issued any restriction on food during pujas. We will not change our arrangements over someone’s personal comments. Durga Puja means homecoming of Ma Durga. Hence, it calls for a celebration. Only the best food will be served during the feast,” said Debnath.
