A booklet on best artwork display at puja pandals launched

State Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim released a booklet containing pictures of the artefacts that are being displayed at Sangraha in Eco Park.

The museum has been renamed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on February 27. The unique museum displays artefacts and handicrafts that were used by various clubs during the Durga Puja and has become very popular among the visitors of Eco Park. Priced at Rs 50, the booklet is a collector's item. It contains photographs of the artefacts that have been displayed along with small write-ups on them.

It was during the grand parade on Red Road held in October last year which displayed the artwork used by different clubs during Durga Puja, Banerjee had announced the setting up of a place in Eco Park to preserve the handicrafts and the artefacts.

She asked the chairman of Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) Debashis Sen to take up the matter with the clubs along with the Information and Cultural Affairs department. It may be mentioned that it is for the first time in the state when some of the best artwork displayed at various puja pandals has been preserved.

Economists, both in the country and abroad, had earlier, criticised the decoration and artworks in pandals because of their "limited shelf life" and termed the money involved in Durga Puja as "sheer wastage." It was the Chief Minister who first realised that if the artwork could be preserved and displayed, then many people, both from the country and abroad could see and appreciate them.

At Sangraha, the handicrafts and artefacts used in the pandals of 12 community puja committees have been displayed. They include Badamtala Ashar Sangha, Hindustan Park Sarbojanin Durgotsav, AK Block Salt Lake, Kolahal Gosthi Durga Puja Committee, 41 Pally Haridebpur, Tridhara, Barisha Club Behala, Behala Friends Club, Kalighat Milan Sangha, Ultadanga Pallyshree, Ballygunge Cultural, and Tala Barowari. The museum has come up near gate number 4 of Eco Park. It is fully air-conditioned and steps have been taken to keep the handicrafts dust-free. It remains open from 2.30 pm till 7 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.