This year’s Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata feature a number of pandals incorporating historical themes related to pre-independence Bengal and the Indian freedom movement. These installations offer visitors an experience described as museum-like, showcasing aspects of undivided Bengal’s past and its significant figures.
Specific examples include Suruchi Sangha in New Alipore, which displays murals and bust sculptures of freedom fighters alongside textual snippets highlighting the independence movement. Meanwhile, Samaj Sebi Sangha on Lake View Road focuses on the communal harmony that existed amidst the strife of 1946 within its own neighborhood, recreating street scenes of the period alongside depictions of communal violence from newspaper archives. Another pandal, Hatibagan Nabin Pally, is also noted for exploring similar historical narratives.
Source: www.thehindu.com