Durga parade: Catch a glimpse of the best idols on Red Road
This pujas, get ready for a unique spectacle. The best of the city’s idols in all their finery will troop down the Red Road on their way for immersion. The idea was chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s and her men and ministers are toiling day and night to make it happen.
To begin with, this year, the tourism department has approached 50 top Durga Puja organisers for the grand road show on October 14. Bonedi Bari (former zamindari families) puja organisers have also been invited to take part in the procession.
The plans are indeed grand. Like the parade on Republic Day, there will be viewing galleries on both sides of the Red Road and announcements about the pujas and their organisers will be made as the spectacle passes by.
Married women in red sarees with red borders with vermillion splashed all over the face provide the most traditional picture of immersion revelry. (HT Photo)
“This is a dream project of the chief minister, which the tourism department would be implementing this year. On October 14, as the Durga idols of various pujas go towards Babu Ghat for immersion we will be putting up a road show of the top 50 pujas in Kolkata on Red Road,” said Gautam Deb, state tourism minister.
Much like the Republic Day show, there will be tableau representing the theme of various community pujas. This year, the government will be honouring the best pujas in the city and the organisers have been invited to participate in the ceremony.
“The idea is to ensure that people can watch the best puja’s of Kolkata in one place without having to travel much. This will be a great way to showcase the biggest festival of Bengal to the whole world,” the minister said.
The plans are being firmed up. “We have held two meetings with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Police and Durga Puja organisers to finalise the details. Also, since this is the first year and everything is being done within such a short time, we also need to get ideas from puja organisers,” said Rajat Kumar Bose, director of tourism and ex-officio commissioner of the tourism department.
