Women venture out where menfolk fear to tread

Soumya De Sarkar, SNS, Malda, 26 September 2014: Lack of time, price hike and other constraints have all discouraged men of Gangabag area in municipal ward No 11 in English Bazaar Municipality to hold the Durga Puja in the locality that started way back in 1989. However, a noteworthy initiative by women folk has helped the area continue the tradition of the Gangabag Sorbojanin Durgotsov for the silver jubilee year this time around.

Working women and housewives of the locality have joined hands not only to conduct the traditional Durga Puja at the locality, but also to build the pandal with their own crafts to save money.

Nandita Saha, Pilu Sharma, Chitra Saha, Sumi Poddar, Sunanda Kumar, Anwesa Saha and many other women of Gangabag area held a meeting when they heard that their male counterparts had found it too tough to organise the puja this year. They then made a resolve to shoulder the responsibility and a committee was formed and the mission given a start.

Many of the women are from different professions and many others are housewives.

However, after carrying out their professional and domestic responsibilities, they are now concentrating on gifting a successful puja to the local residents.

“After the men of the locality hinted that they might not organisethe Durga Puja here, women of the locality happily came forward. This puja becomes the destination of all the residents, specially the children, women and senior citizens who spend happy hours here. We are determined to keep their smiles going,” Swapna Kumar, the secretary of the all-women-run Gangabag Sorbojanin Durgotsov committee said.

The women said they are themselves constructing the pandal with their innovative crafts.

They added that their budget is Rs 1.5 lakh.

“There will be cultural programmes staged by the locals and the children every evening. On the morning of Maha Nabami, we will organisea luncheon for all residents,” Ms Kumar said.

The fairer sex made it clear that it was only a modest beginning and the tradition would continue for years to come. “Our effort is not a one-time wonder, we will develop this every year and of course with an improved vision,” Ms Kumar said.