In December 2021, UNESCO included Kolkata’s Durga Puja in its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In her book In the Name of the Goddess: The Durga Pujas of Contemporary Kolkata, Tapati Guha-Thakurta, the historian who got Kolkata's Durga Puja its UNESCO ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ tag, traced the evolution of the festival and highlighted the creative, cultural, and social economy the grand festival generates beyond its religious aspects. After a halt of two years, the festive season emerges with greater cheer and celebration. The theme across the country during this monumental year is Women Empowerment and Celebrating Artisans, the perfect representation of the festival!
Women Priests, ‘Dhakis’ At Kolkata Satellite Township’s First Community Durga Puja
The first community Durga Puja in the satellite township located on the North-eastern fringes of Kolkata is focussed on ‘Mother Bengal’ and women empowerment and has many firsts to showcase, including all-women teams of priests and ‘dhakis’.
'All four priests of the puja are women, as are the 12 ‘dhakis’ (drummers) and around a dozen performers of ‘Dhunuchi Naach’,' Samaresh Das, secretary of the Durga Puja committee said.The puja is themed on ‘Banga Janani’ (Mother Bengal) and will showcase the traditional art and culture of the state.
Kids Set Up Durga Pandal Using Recycled Waste To Convey Theme Of Women Empowerment
Coming from less privileged backgrounds, kids at the Bal Shashwat Foundation located in Vikas Nagar, Lucknow have been setting up their pandal with waste materials including newspaper waste, unused bottles, tin, sarees, glass bottles and other unused materials. They opted to showcase two themes through their pandal - 'recycle and reuse' and 'women empowerment'. Both of them being socially relevant messages.
Kolkata Women Go Viral As They Break Age-Old Tradition
The country is all set to welcome Goddess Durga and amidst the festivities, a clip featuring a group of women bringing the Durga idol to a pandal, a ceremony that has traditionally been performed by men, has gone viral. The footage captures the women all decked up in red and yellow sarees and holding mashals (torches) in their hands. Behind them, an idol of Goddess Durga can be seen. The video was much loved by users, with one commenting, 'Brilliant. The real Maa Durgas are ushering in the Goddess Durga. Need sharing.'
Kumartuli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee To Pay Tribute To Unsung Artisans
Kumartuli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee will pay tribute to the idol-makers this Puja. The names of hundreds of such artisans from Kumartuli will be highlighted in the pandal. The pandal will have a collage of names of artisans written in Bengali on its walls. Various font styles are being used to attract attention, and cut-outs of the letters of the alphabet will be used as prop. 'Durga Puja would be incomplete without idol-makers and this year we have decided to salute these unsung heroes,' said Debashish Bhattacharya, executive committee member, Kumartuli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee.
Ghaziabad To Witness Its First All-Women-Committee-Led Durga Puja
The Durga Puja 2022 celebration, which is being organised by Shalimar Garden Mahila Sewa Samiti, is inspired by the slogan ‘Ananya Nari’ this year. Starting from ‘puja’ to ‘prasad’ distribution, cultural programs to idol immersion, every bit of the event will be managed by the women’s team of the committee. A team of four women priests has been called from Kolkata to perform all the puja rituals along with two women drummers. The initiative is believed to be a first of its kind in the entire north India. The event, ‘Ananya Nari’, organised by Shalimar Garden Mahila Sewa Samiti will be a complete ‘nari shakti initiative’. The event will include various cultural events, as well as bhandara and prasad distribution, by women executive members of the Samiti. There are more than 40 women in the Samiti, and while the majority are from Shalimar Garden, the others are residents of Delhi and Noida.
All-Women 'Shakti' Commandos To Ensure Women’s Safety During Durga Puja In Ranchi
Ranchi police have deputed 'Shakti' Commandoes comprising of 36 women police personnel on scooters for increasing safety and prevent incidents during Durga Puja. Ranchi SSP Kishore Kaushal said, 'This is a dedicated team for enhancing safety around educational institutes. The mobile phone numbers of the commandoes would be circulated in the schools and colleges in their respective jurisdiction.'