Displaying Durga Puja pandal artefacts, Sangraha a major hit

Sangraha, a unique museum at Eco Park displaying artefacts and handicrafts which were used by various clubs during the Durga puja is attracting visitors.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee renamed the museum and inaugurated it during her visit to Prakiti Tirtha on February 27.

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 art work. 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 in 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 Banerjee who first realised that if this 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 are 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.

HIDCO will be launching a booklet containing the photographs of the artworks during their display at the Durga Puja pandals. It will be available at the museum and visitors will be able to collect them and preserve them. State Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim will launch the booklet which will be published shortly.