The Durga Puja-celebrations during the pandemic-the pitfalls...

 Setting aside all “ifs” and “buts” the West Bengal Government has decided to go ahead with the festivities that surround celebration of Durga Puja in Bengal this year amidst pandemic.

Durga Puja, a four day festival, remains quintessential to a bengali’s life since birth. Things have changed in last century everywhere at a break-neck speed; Bengal has not been an exception. What has not changed is the child-like enthusiasm and fervour that surround Durga Puja. Infact bengalis consider Maa Durga as a member of their family who visits and blesses everyone in the family during those  days in a manner a mother would ordinarily do. Consequently, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, sauve or laid upon, no one keeps himself away from the magic those four days bring upon a bengali’s life. Question that naturally continued to pop up whether the celebrations will be stymied or at all be held this year during pandemic. 

Ever since Covid-19 has been declared a pandemic in March this year,  personal hygine and social distancing have been the coveted  norms that are given maximum weightage to counter the malice. Corona virus spreads through human contact and the droplets that surface during sneezing or coughing which contaminate the surroundings within a legitimate distance of around 6-8 feet. The governments have issued countless advisories in past in this respect to caution the public at large urging them to maintain a distance of atleast “do-gaz” amongst themselves . Social distancing is considered a panacea and is required to be followed at every public place, be it an office, a market place, a shopping mall, on roads, parks etc. in such a scenario the holding of Durga Puja in Bengal, especially in Kolkata, is a question that needed an answer for the fall out could be very dangerous. The State government after a prolonged thought gave it a green signal; that the celebrations this year will be muted with the customary decorations of the pandal and protima ( idol) to be kept at minimum.

The decision to hold and celebrate Durga Puja in Bengal this year has divided the bengali intelligentsia into two groups. One which is in favour and the other which opposes it. Those in favour have their thoughts sprouting out of the sagging economy. Their thoughts spring out of the facts that Durga Puja in Bengal is not merely a celebration which lasts four/five days. Thousands of artisans, daily wagers ( karigar), event managers, decorators, artistes, idol makers , sweetmeat vendors, textile industries, leather industries in general, traders, transporters, road side vendors, security personnel et al prepare themselves for months to welcome the festivities surrounding Durga Puja as it involves much more than mere livelihood of many. No wonder Durga Puja has a 50000 crore impact on Bengal economy. It is not difficult to fathom the effect of scrapping of the mega event would leave purely in economic terms. True, a muted celebration would scale down the economy to a greater extent but still it would be a face-saver for the government and those involved in it.

On the other side the “nay-sayers”

have been consistent in their demand of scrapping the event this year. They are loaded with reasons that far outweigh those in favour of holding the event.  A populace which were indoors for months will be difficult to control when things go out of bounds as the celebrations begin. The severely impacted will be the most important social distancing norms which will be pushed behind corners. It is said that a happy mind does not fear anything. That Durga Puja brings happiness to all is a mere understatement. In such mental bliss how much control can be influenced upon the surging crowd thronging the pandals and crowding every possible  place of gathering could be anyone’s imagination. Recently, a video made viral on social media showing surging crowds in New market, in Kolkata, especially  at a famous shoe-house, sent shivers down the spines of the medical fraternity. The social distancing norms were seen tossed up and even people were seen not wearing masks blissfully buying shoes of their life unaware of the imminent danger of virus infection. The experts feel that pitfalls will be severe. It is feared by many that the infection curve that still is reasonably flattened will be at  its peak during November in Bengal. The sinister effects will not be limited to Bengal and will be felt even in neighbouring States. When all other States have scrapped festivals involving public gatherings the decision of Bengal Government to go ahead with the celebrations have called for severe criticism at many quarters. They argue that no one has the right to endanger someone else’s life. In such light the decision by the West Bengal Government appears to have a telling effect on public health post Durga Puja. With hospitals full of patients, vacant beds difficult to come by, the fatigued doctors and health care workers already at their wits end, a surge of infection post celebration may be difficult to manage and may cause the entire health system to crumble. 

Well, with the major decisions in the matter already taken by the administration , with the coveted moments merely days ahead,  may Goddess Durga, the eternal Shakti, the destructor of all evil, the saviour of all, bless Her subjects to put every controversy behind. May the Mother with Her eternal bliss grant health, wealth and solitude to all Her subjects. May by Her blessings the blessed land of Bengal and every household of India become free of all malice. 

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