From Dhunuchi to Dissent: Kolkata's Durga Pujo to turn into a rally for Bengali pride with this year's theme
Kolkata's Durga Puja this year transcends artistry, becoming a cultural statement addressing perceived injustices against Bengali speakers. Pandal themes will depict Partition-era struggles, migrant worker harassment, and Bengal's rich history. This surge in politically charged themes reflects heightened tensions in West Bengal, with organizers using the festival as a platform to defend Bengali identity amid political rhetoric.
TOI.in This year, Kolkata's Durga Puja is set to be more than a celebration of artistry and devotion — it will be a cultural statement. From sprawling installations to thought-provoking pandals, several committees are dedicating their themes to the perceived injustices faced by Bengali-speaking people across India, reported TOI. Organisers told the news outlet that the idea is to challenge stereotypes, noting the language's deep cultural roots, and confront attempts to label Bengali speakers as 'outsiders' or 'Bangladeshis.' The creative interpretations span Bengal's ancient history, Partition-era refugee struggles, and the lives of migrant workers who face harassment simply for speaking their mother tongue. From veteran clubs to newer entrants, organisers are pushing boundaries — turning pandals into living history lessons on Bengal's legacy and its contemporary challenges. In Behala, Adarshapally Club will evoke the trauma of refugees during Partition, drawing on filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak's works, particularly Meghe Dhaka Tara , to mirror the threats to Bengal's cultural fabric today.
'It's about Bengal in peril — then and now,' organiser Shankar Ghosh told TOI.
Baguiati's Ashwininagar Bandhumahal will trace the history of the Bengal delta back 42,000 years, while marking its 45th year with Bangla o Bangali. Banglar Itihaas , featuring installations of Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Meanwhile, Dum Dum Road Hanuman Mandir Jayashree Club is taking a hard political stance, theming its pandal around alleged illegal deportations of Bengali speakers and the erosion of their basic rights.
Chaltabagan Sarbojonin, now in its 81st year, will present Ami Banglay Bolchhi (I am speaking in Bangla) near the historic home of poet and playwright Dwijendralal Roy. On the other hand, 39 Pally Durgotsav Samiti's effort, spearheaded by young organisers with Down syndrome, will address what they call 'language terrorism' — a metaphor for the stigma and exclusion they face, TOI further reported. The surge in politically charged Puja themes comes amid heightened tensions in West Bengal over alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking citizens in BJP-ruled states. Last week, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a large protest march through central Kolkata, joined by TMC leaders including Abhishek Banerjee, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled state visit. The TMC has accused the Centre and BJP-governed states of targeting Bengalis through eviction drives, detention of migrant workers, and even foreigners' tribunal notices against Indian citizens. The party's renewed push for 'Bengali pride' is seen as a key plank in its campaign for next year's Assembly polls. BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, however, has countered that the 'Bengali asmita' pitch is political theatre designed to shield illegal immigration, while questioning the state government's own record in supporting Bengali professionals. For now, as the political rhetoric sharpens, Durga Puja organisers in Kolkata seem determined to make the city's biggest cultural festival a platform for defending identity — blending devotion, art, and activism in the same breath.
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