Kolkata; Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee advised the community Puja organisers to ensure that foreign tourists and the UNESCO team which are slated to tour pandals in the city have a hassle-free experience and are duly welcomed.
Banerjee inaugurated 17 community Durga Pujas in virtual mode from her Kalighat residence on Sunday. During the inauguration of the Puja of Ajeyo Sanghati in Haridevpur, Banerjee said that Brazil’s World Cup footballer Ronaldinho will meet her on Monday. The soccer star is coming on his maiden visit to Kolkata on Monday and is scheduled to visit a number of Puja pandals, including that of Sreebhumi Sporting Club; the Puja patronised by state Fire and Emergency Services minister Sujit Bose.
“This time a large number of foreign tourists as well as representatives from UNESCO will visit Puja pandals in the city. You may not have an intimation in advance so you should ensure that at least five to seven volunteers associated with the Puja are present at the pandal at all times. You should extend the best possible hospitality to the foreigners. If possible, welcome them with the blowing of conch shells. The UNESCO team is very fond of children. So keep this in mind too,” Banerjee told the organisers.
Banerjee said that she would have preferred physical inauguration of pandals than virtual one but due to her leg injury doctors have advised restricted movement. She invited all the Puja clubs to take part in the Puja Carnival on Red Road on October 27 and assured them of her physical presence there.
She also viewed performances from some of the clubs and praised the Puja organisers for their hard work
towards churning out the artwork associated with their respective pujas.