Bhubaneswar: Just over a week from now, we’ll be celebrating the five-day long Durga Puja festival.
After muted celebrations during the last two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, puja organizers are looking to compensate for lost time and make this year’s festivities very special.
Nayapalli Durga Puja Samiti in Odisha’s capital has come up with a theme to showcase the neglected mothers in our society in their pandal.
Senior citizens in India face maximum abuse from their family members, even though 82% of them live with their kin.
According to a survey by HelpAge India, a charity platform that works for the cause of disadvantaged elderly population, about 35% of elders suffer abuse at the hands of their sons and 21% reported abuse by their daughters-in-law, forcing many of them to land at old-age homes. Abuse ranges from disrespect to neglect, physical violence and verbal abuse.
Odisha has also reported several cases of elderly women being abused, and abandoned by their kids.
“The idea was finalized after numerous discussions were held among members. As we have been witnessing many such instances in our twin cities, we thought of making people around us realize the value and power of ‘Matru Rupena Sansthita’,” Nayapalli Durga Puja Samiti ex-president Pabitra Behera told Odisha Bytes.
Around 45 craftsmen of Kolkata have worked to create the aesthetic pandal at Nayapalli Durga Puja mandap this year.
“The artisans began working on the idol and pandal gate from Janmashtami with ‘mati anukula’ rituals. They had made pandals with a similar concept at Odisha’s Paradip as well as Assam earlier and were showered with compliments,” said Pabitra.
This year’s pandal is about 115 feet long and 75 feet high . While the idol will be about 20-22 feet high, ‘medha’ will be around 25-26 feet.
Devotees will be able to visit the pandal for darshan from October 1.
The organizers are expecting a vast number of devotees. Adequate arrangements will be made for all devotees, including senior citizens and differently-abled people, informed Pabitra.
Puja committee advisory member Premananda Jena said that elaborate arrangements have been made for pandal-hopping visitors.
“We hope all the people visit our pandal and seek the Goddess’ blessings,” said Jena.
Special security arrangements have also been made for women.
“The crime rate may increase during the time of pandal visits. We have also asked the transgender community to join us for volunteering along with the police force,” a committee member said.
