Durga Puja 2024: As vibrant cerulean skies adorn Kolkata, sprinkled with tufts of clouds reminiscent of fairy tale cotton candy, the city prepares to welcome Goddess Durga and her children back to their maternal home. Despite the festive atmosphere, a shadow looms over this year’s celebrations, with a brutal murder of a young doctor igniting fears and sadness within the community. Yet for Bengalis around the world, Durga Puja transcends mere celebration; it embodies a profound symphony of hope. For Durga Puja 2024, Zoom has started a series Durga To You and reached out to actresses and asked them – What does Durga mean to you?
In an exclusive interaction with Zoom, legendary Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta, who has portrayed the ten-armed goddess on screen for Mahalaya, spoke about the festival's deep roots in Bengali culture. "Durga Puja is the most important festival," she declared. "It brings joy, power, commitments, relationships, and beauty together. Durga Puja is our essence of life, our strengths, our childhood, and the indomitable spirit."
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Rituparna, often affectionately called Ritu di, elaborated on the significance of the Goddess. "Goddess Durga means power, justice, kindness, and supreme authority. She is the epitome of righteousness and the storehouse of woman power," she said, capturing the essence of what Uma signifies to her.
Reflecting on her fondest memories of Durga Puja, Rituparna recalled cherished childhood moments spent with her mother and aunts, exploring fashionable stores like New Market and Vardaan. “We would excitedly count how many new dresses we could flaunt each day, competing in style with cousins and friends. My mother’s gentle reminders about staying within our means and the importance of sharing shaped my understanding of kindness and generosity in our middle-class joint family,” she reminisced. “Those moments of pandal hopping with friends, savoring street food like golgappas, and offering anjali in a new saree on Ashtami brought a richness to our simple joys that I cherish deeply.”
As the brand ambassador for Indian Bangla Club Andheri Link Road Sarbojanik Durga Puja, Rituparna believes in the importance of preserving traditions. “We grew with these, and our next generation should know about the past. This will give them huge insights into life,” she stated, stressing on the socio-economic importance of the festival.
"Art, culture, and cuisine are the soul of Durga Puja. Each year, our talented artists pour their hearts into crafting intricate designs that breathe life into the themes of the pandals. Their dedication is not just a celebration of creativity; it is a vital source of livelihood, reflecting the profound connection between their artistry and the spirit of this cherished festival," she added.
However, amid the joy of the festival, Rituparna is acutely aware of the societal challenges that have cast a pall over the celebrations this year. “This year, our hearts are heavy. We mourn the brutal murder of a young doctor in her own workplace, and we also grieve the loss of Roman, a cherished patron of our Pujo. It's a time of mixed emotions, as we navigate our pain while trying to honour the spirit of the festival,” she concluded poignantly.