Coronavirus spells uncertainty for Durga Puja in West Bengal

Amid growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, Durga Puja, one of the largest annual festival in West Bengal is starting to feel the financial pinch. From a lower budget to social distancing, from no decorative lights to no corporate patronage, the Durga Puja of 2020 could be a completely different affair.

Kolkata: The COVID-19 pandemic has already taken its toll on many aspects of life. In less than 100 days when Bengal will be ready for this year's Durga Puja, the pandemic will have its effect on the annual autumn extravaganza too.

From a lower budget to social distancing, from no decorative lights to no corporate patronage, the Durga Puja of 2020 could be a completely different affair.

The Forum for Durgotsav formed this year with over 400 Puja organisers of Kolkata, has already decided on several measures to ensure that social distancing is practised during the Pujas.

No congregation of more than 25 persons in the pandals,

shortened height of pandals and idols, regular sanitisation including complete sanitisation of the pandals at least twice daily, regular sanitisation of volunteers and club members, less decoration inside the pandals, which will ensure minimum waiting period inside the makeshift structures, wearing face masks compulsory and ensuring that Pushpanjali (floral offering to the deity) and Sindur Khela (smearing of vermillion among women) are done with social distancing, the Forum has already decided on a slew of steps to ensure that the Pujas are held this year. But, organisers of big-budget Durga Pujas are a wary lot.

Saswata Bose, general secretary of the Forum and convenor of Hatibagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee said, “We would like to have a decent Puja, minus the pomp and show and also by maintaining all government norms and regulations. There is no alternative to this.”

North Kolkata's crowd-puller Kashi Bose Lane Durga Puja Samiti is yet to decide on how to approach this year's affair.

Soumen Dutta, general secretary of the Durga Puja committee said, “Due to lockdown norms in place, there would be curtailments in the Puja, but rituals will be carried out. The bigger issue is, Bengal's rural economy, which gets a fillip during the Durga Puja, is going to be badly hit. Pujas will happen but at a much lower scale. The idol makers, ornament makers, pandal designers, the electricians and decorative light installers to the dhakis (traditional drum beaters), everybody comes to the metropolis from the districts, from the villages. They will be the worst hit.”

Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja has already started its preparation, the only club to do so in North Kolkata.

“Sanitisation tunnels are in place. People are working in shifts to erect the pandal and full sanitisation at regular intervals are being done. During the Pujas, we will make sure that all norms are strictly followed,” said an organiser.

Pratik Choudhury of Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra also said that all government rules will be followed and Puja will be organised.

The grand old community puja of North Kolkata, Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durgotsav will be entering its 102 years.

Puja committee general secretary, Goutam Niyogi told Etv Bharat that social distancing will be a big challenge during the heydays of the puja, especially from Saptami to Dashami.

Sindur Khela is a signature event of this Puja which has come under the cloud of uncertainty.

“Everything will be curtailed. We are waiting for the government's directives. It will be a very small affair this year as there will be a severe dearth of sponsors,” said Niyogi.

Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja near central Kolkata's Sealdah area will step in its 85th year.

One of the largest crowd pullers, this big-ticket Puja has earlier enthralled visitors with golden and silver jewellery decked Durga idols.

Puja Committee's general secretary, Sajal Ghosh said, “Earlier if we were spending around Rs 100 for our Puja, this year it will be scaled down to around Rs 75. This 25 per cent decrease will also mean a lot to many people financially. Moreover, our social service work will also suffer badly.”

Bulan Maitra of Mohammed Ali Park Youth Association, another popular Durga Puja of central Kolkata said, “We had to shift our Puja last year to a different location as there was some civic work to be done in the park. This year we are yet to get any clearance from the fire department on holding the Puja at the new location. No order has been placed with the idol makers of Kumartuli. The decorators are also in the dark. It is a completely uncertain scenario.”

Ekdalia Evergreen Club of Gariahat area in South Kolkata draws lakhs of visitors every year with their unique idol and pandal decor.

Decorative light sets are also a major attraction of this Puja. One of the prime movers of this Puja, state minister Subrata Mukherjee told Etv Bharat that the idol makers have been asked to make this year's idol, but the decor inside the pandal and the decorative lights will not be there.

“Another important aspect of our Puja is, we never had a queue system. We always believed that people should be allowed to come in and witness this annual extravaganza. But, this time we will have a queue system in place and social distancing as well as wearing masks will be made mandatory. Body temperature monitoring guns will also be there to keep a tab on our visitors,” said Mukherjee.

Partha Ghosh of Shiv Mandir Durga Puja committee said new plans are being drawn to ensure social distancing among visitors.

“The height of both the idols as well as the pandal will be shortened and sanitisation will be ensured for all workers engaged in pandal making and decoration work.”

He further stated that coronavirus has proved to be the Mahishasur (Demon King) over whom Goddess Durga is supposed to prevail.

"A virtually stalled economy disrupted the supply chain and prevalent uncertainty could make things only worse for both human and God," he added.