Kolkata: For the first time in three-and-a-half decades, West Bengal’s ministers have openly joined in organising Durga Puja celebrations, shedding the political diffidence of the previous leftist government, some of whose members were avowed atheists. Puja organising committees are witnessing the ministerial presence in a big way, with many legislators of the ruling Trinamool Congress giving them company.
The leaders say their association spreads a message of religious harmony.
Sports Minister Madan Mitra, who organises the Agradut and Uday Sangha Puja at Bhowanipore, said the festival was more of a social and cultural event than a religious one.
Mitra through his Puja hopes to convey the importance of agriculture and villages with the theme titled ‘Maa Maati Manush’, a pet slogan of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
So might ministerial participation lead to misuse of the pujas or weaken the secular fabric?
Public Health Engineering Minister Subrata Mukherjee, the guiding force of South Kolkata’s Ekdalia Evergreen Puja, told IANS: “I have been attached with this puja since my childhood and being a minister does not make any difference. When it comes to the committee I am just an ordinary member.” It has a budget of Rs.40 lakh.
“It would also be wrong to say that my association goes against secularism. I am equally active when it comes to celebrating Eid or Christmas. Moreover Durga Puja is no more confined to Hindus.”
South Kolkata’s Chetla Agrani Club, which is endorsing communal harmony with its marquee shaped as a mosque and a temple, has Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim as president.
Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee is the patron of South Kolkata’s Naktala Udayan Sangha Puja, which has seemingly left many of its rivals behind in terms of grandeur.
Chatterjee, however, claims his ministerial duties have prevented him for helping the puja organisers.
New Alipore’s big bang Suruchi Sangha Puja may not boast of a ministerial organiser but in Arup Biswas, it does have a star legislator as president.
“Doesn’t secularism mean one has the right to practise and promote one’s own religion? Being a Hindu don’t I have the right to organise a puja? ” reasoned Biswas.(IANS)