A Durga Puja pandal in South Kolkata, presented by the Behala Friends puja committee, has designated ‘Nabanna’ (a celebration of harvesting) as its theme. This year’s installation aims to establish a connection between the 1943 Bengal famine and contemporary global humanitarian situations marked by suffering, pain, and hunger. Specifically, the theme highlights parallels with conditions in Palestine, Yemen, and Sudan.
The artistic elements incorporated include poetry from the Bengal famine period, such as works by Sukanta Bhattacharya, alongside contemporary poems by Gazan artist Inas Hassan. Hassan is noted for founding Masahati, described as an independent creative space for displaced artists. Organizers have stated that the theme’s objective is to evoke remembrance and promote resistance by linking the historical Bengal famine to current challenges of widespread starvation amid apparent abundance.
Source: indianexpress.com