Theme of 'maya' to shape pandal of North Kolkata Puja committee
Kolkata: The theme of this year's Durga Puja of Purba Kalikata Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee of Narkeldanga in North Kolkata is maya, the central theme of Indian philosophy.
Conceptualised by artist Swapan Sarkar, the lighting arrangement has been made by Saurabh Sanyal to implement the theme. The idol has been made by Sanatan Paul. Noted music director Kalyan Sen Barat has composed the theme music.
Fishing net, poles of different sizes made by bamboo and human palms made of plaster of Paris symbolising invitation of people to the non-permanent virtual world will be put up as the theme's design elements. Work is going on round the clock to complete the pandal. "Our only problem is the unpredictability of rain. We have covered the entire area where the artisans are giving final touches to the pandal and to meet the deadline, bright sunny days are needed," said Subhrokanti Lodh, the spokesperson of the committee. The lights will create special effects and that will create an ambience of a virtual world.
"We have selected the theme as only real knowledge can help us to get over violence and jealousy which have affected society. During Durga Puja we pray for peace and prosperity and an end of evil," said Lodh.
The community puja will enter its 72nd year in 2018. The main thoroughfare near the pandal was closed for many years due to the construction work of East-West Metro. The road has now been thrown open to traffic. The organisers feel that several people will visit the pandal and appreciate the theme and ambience.
Maya is the most important concept in Indian philosophy. "The world is illusory because it is non-permanent. The world around is like a "snake-rope" illusion. People see a rope and take it to be a snake. They fail to see the non-permanence of the world because of ignorance, which is dispelled only when true knowledge comes. Because of ignorance there is shameless ego and people tend to differentiate on the basis on caste, creed, sex and religion. Real knowledge refines individuals and the Upanishads have asked people to follow the path of true knowledge," are some of the tenets of the concept.
Lodh said: "To save people from the destructive traits, the knowledge of the real world is needed and we will use the platform of Durga Puja to create awareness on this among the people."
