Durga Puja at CR Park to stress women’s rights, sustainablity

In the aftermath of nationwide outrage over the RG Kar rape-murder incident, the theme of women’s empowerment is set to be at the centre of the Durga Puja festivities in Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), also known as Delhi’s ‘mini-Kolkata’.

From eco-friendly messages, hues of rural Bengal, to the majestic forts of Rajasthan, the Bengali community of the area are leaving no stone unturned to make the annual festivities, commencing on Wednesday.

At the Kali Mandir, dark red and white colours symbolising women’s rights have been used in the pandal, which has been decorated by 80 per cent women workforce, said Rajiv Nag, secretary of the Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir Samiti.

To promote local talent, the organisers have also invited artistes from the NCR to perform during the festival. The events will tell women's stories and honour their contributions, Nag said.

Taking an environment-friendly initiative, the Cooperative Durga Puja Committee has opted for eco-friendly idols that will be dissolved in an artificial pond constructed near the pandal on ‘Dashami’, the last day of the festival.

The Maa Sharda community in CR Park has constructed a replica of Vanarasi’s Kashi Vishwanath temple. The Cooperative Durga Puja Samiti, opted for the theme ‘Gram Bangla’ to highlight the traditional celebrations of rural Bengal.