Trinamool ministers’ pujas are top crowdpullers
4 Oct 2014 4:58 AM IST
State education minister Partha Chatterjee has been mentoring a puja club since 2000. The Naktala Udayan Sangha, which has created a stunning 3D effect this year by putting up a fibre glass idol under water (via special effects), has been blessed by Chatterjee’s guidance at every step. Simple everyday objects like plastic and fans have been used to create an under-water ambience with the message that the goddess is stepping out from the tumultuous seas to bless mankind.
With a budget hovering around Rs 38 lakh, the club secretary Bappaditya Dasgupta says that an exhibition on Suchitra Sen is one of the big draws of their puja, ‘We have tried to collect postcards and rare black and white photos of the matinee idol. Ace musician Rashid Khan has also composed the theme song for our puja. But we have consulted the busy minister at every step’.
Another top draw among crowd pulling pujas has been Trinamool minister Firhad Hakim’s Chetla Agrani Club, where renowned artist Sanatan Dinda has created a rather traditional goddess this year. ‘The chief minister has herself painted the three eyes of the Durga idol this year (trinayan) on Mahalaya. This is a rare honour. As for Hakim he was born in this para (neighbourhood) and is totally involved here’, says a proud Subhendu Samanta, treasurer of the club. The budget this year: a whopping Rs 45 lakh.
The showstealer among the big pujas though is the award-winning New Alipore Suruchi Sangha, mentored by Trinamool leader Aroop Biswas. This year, the theme is world peace and the chosen state is the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh.
A lot of flora and fauna and local craftsmanship(bell metal) of Chhattisgarh is displayed here. ‘We usually send out a message every year. Whether it is controlling pollution or saving water or Kashmir, we have tried to depict an issue of national importance. The several lakhs of people who pour in every day is a token of appreciation’, said a spokesperson of the puja committee.
With a budget hovering around Rs 38 lakh, the club secretary Bappaditya Dasgupta says that an exhibition on Suchitra Sen is one of the big draws of their puja, ‘We have tried to collect postcards and rare black and white photos of the matinee idol. Ace musician Rashid Khan has also composed the theme song for our puja. But we have consulted the busy minister at every step’.
Another top draw among crowd pulling pujas has been Trinamool minister Firhad Hakim’s Chetla Agrani Club, where renowned artist Sanatan Dinda has created a rather traditional goddess this year. ‘The chief minister has herself painted the three eyes of the Durga idol this year (trinayan) on Mahalaya. This is a rare honour. As for Hakim he was born in this para (neighbourhood) and is totally involved here’, says a proud Subhendu Samanta, treasurer of the club. The budget this year: a whopping Rs 45 lakh.
The showstealer among the big pujas though is the award-winning New Alipore Suruchi Sangha, mentored by Trinamool leader Aroop Biswas. This year, the theme is world peace and the chosen state is the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh.
A lot of flora and fauna and local craftsmanship(bell metal) of Chhattisgarh is displayed here. ‘We usually send out a message every year. Whether it is controlling pollution or saving water or Kashmir, we have tried to depict an issue of national importance. The several lakhs of people who pour in every day is a token of appreciation’, said a spokesperson of the puja committee.
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