A vision lives on
Even though he avoided limelight throughout his life, last week he was a headline in all Kolkata newspapers including The Statesman. And, in all international newspapers earlier in the month.
Those who have missed out a chance to visit some of the award-winning Durga idols, will get another chance if they visit the museum at Rabindra Sarobar. State government has decided to exhibit the best four idols of Durga from among the Pujas of Kolkata at the museum, wherein idols from earlier years are on display. The exhibition is titled Maa Phire Elo.
The puja committees whose idols are being included in the museum this time include Hindustan Park, Jodhpur Park, Alipore Gopalnagar 78 Pally and Barisha Club. The art gallery that hosts the exhibition had begun seven years back on the initiative of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. On 12 December 2012, Miss Banerjee had inaugurated the museum with five idols. This year, Barisha Club had raised awareness about the damage that the cell phone towers cause to birds.
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The pandal has been decorated with a dish TV antenna and a faux cell phone tower which is surrounded by the skeletons of dead birds. The pandal is meant to raise awareness of the harmful effects of radiation from cell phone towers on birds. Instead of the holy weapons that are placed in thee idol’s hands, the Barisha Club Durga has been installed with little birds sitting on her hands. Hindustan Park, which had stepped into its 89th year, depicted the nine *rasas of Indian classical dance namely *Karuna, *Raudra, *Veera, *Bhayanaka and others as their theme.
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In Jodhpur Park the theme revolves around creation and the pandal resembles a Shiva temple. Ash has been used to build it, symbolizing rebirth that gives rise to something new. Presently, the museum draws a big crowd and so the government has decided to place this year’s best idols as well.
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