Durga Puja to highlight atrocities on women

HT Bureau
DIBRUGARH, Oct 17: The Mitra Sangha Puja have decided highlight atrocities on women through the
portrayal of Draupadi’s Vastraharan from Mahabharat during their 42 nd Durga Puja celebrations in
Dibrugarh this year.
The committee members are trying their utmost to ensure that this year’s Durga Puja stands out among
all in terms of focusing on social causes.
“We will portray Draupadi’s Vastraharan from Mahabharat in our puja pandal to highlight the atrocities
on women in the society. Everyday women face harassment in the society. We will also showcase the ill
effects of gambling in our society. Draupadi’s honpour was put to stake in the gambling between
Pandavas and Kauravas,” said Sandeep Tulsyan, secretary of Mitra Sangha Puja Committee.
“Every year, we choose themes that resonate with people and the times. We have won several awards
for eco-friendly themes. This year too, our Puja is based on eco-friendly theme. To make the people
aware about different environmental issues, we have taken up the theme. Every year we receive huge
crowds gathered in our Puja pandal , who praise our themes and our work,” he said.
Lakhikanta Maity, artisan from West Bengal’s East Midnapore district said, “For the last 40 years we
have been making idols of Goddess Durga and other deities for the Mitra Sangha. Like previous year, this
time also we are preparing the pandal. The pandal is made up with all eco-friendly materials. The
pandal is made up with tree leaves. The pandal theme is ‘Shanka’ and the upper part of the crown will
feature ‘Sudharshan Chakra’. Our workers are working day and night to complete the work in time.”
The Mitra Sangha Durga Puja has always been known to be a crowd puller as they have always managed
to come up with innovative and eco-friendly themes.
“Our puja pandal will be inaugurated on Thursday at 6 p.m. This time we are bringing women Dhakis
from Bengal who will play traditional Dhaks during the puja. We are expecting more crowd this time
because the weather will be good,” Tulsyan said.