Bengal’s biggest festival, Durga Puja, which will begin in mid-October this year, is a four-day melange of fun and devotion bringing everything else in the entire state to a standstill.
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“(This pujo) is a way to cross gender lines – as “women” and “outcastes”, says Anindya Hajra of Pratyay Gender Trust. West Bengal Tourism has already unveiled a number of Durga Puja packages to attract tourists. The decision was taken in a meet attended by police officials and members of various Durga Puja committees on Thursday. “We are conscious how sites of worship and associated rituals have Brahminical associations and often act as a site of misogyny, prejudice and violence”.
One half of the idol has a moustache, a pectoral instead of a breast, smaller eyelashes, and a dhoti (traditional male garment). Activities that are traditionally male dominated, the theme, specifications about the idol, marquee decoration, collection of subscription, puja committee formation, will see the participation of transgender women.
Reach any nook and crevice of the country and you will find at least one enormous Durga Puja celebration happening. It was thanks to Bhanu Naskar, who lives in the neighbourhood and started the local puja nearly three decades ago, that this idea was born. The district administration has also instructed the committees to deploy volunteers in the pandals for safety of visitors. They have asked all puja pandals to install CCTV cameras and have also sought additional security forces to maintain order says Police Commissioner, Mukesh Agarwal.
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.
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All Puja Pandals have to get a No objection Letter from the Fire, PWD and electricity department to observe Durga Puja. Worshipers make idols of the goddess to commemorate Durga’s triumph of good over evil. “We are hoping this will lead to broader conversations on gender and inclusion”.
