Reasons Why Kolkata is the Best Place to Be During Durga Puja

Puja pandals are offering free wi-fi to the visitors by making it a wi-fi-zone.

The idol was visualised by 55-year-old transgender, Bhanu Naskar, and was crafted by China Pal, who also happens to be the only woman artisan of Kumortuli.. It has five members of the transgender community in the Puja committee. “We are conscious how sites of worship and associated rituals have Brahminical associations and often act as a site of misogyny, prejudice and violence”.

“This is an attempt to bring an end to that discrimination cutting across caste and gender lines”, he said. “Activities that are traditionally male-dominated – the theme, marquee decoration, collection of subscription, puja committee formation – will see the participation of transgender persons”, says Anindya Hajra.

One half of the idol has a mustache, smaller eyelashes and a dhoti whereas the remaining half of the idol is the usual one that one sees during Durga puja.

What is unique about the Puja is that even the idol of Goddess Durga is represented as Ardhanareeswar, a mythological and cultural concept of both male and female powers needed for creation of the universe. “Are they not human?” asked Ghanashyam Shaw, a senior official of Udyami Yubak Brinda.

“Puja committees should ensure environment-friendly pandals with no use of plastic”, said DIG (southern range) Amitabh Thakur.

“We are going against the conventions by helping the local club organise the puja”.

Initially the proposal for a transgender idol faced a few resistance by the locals, however with the help of media backing and support from artists, musicians and filmmakers it has been welcomed.

Given the number of crimes against women during such festivals in crowd in the past, the Puja committees have been directed to deploy women volunteers to make sure that women do not face any problem during Durga Puja.

Bengal has in many cases been at the forefront of inclusion of the transgender community, including hiring the country’s first transgender college principal and requesting a transgender person to inaugurate a Durga Puja pandal a year ago.