Apart from a protest-free festival, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has also appealed to the city’s citizens to forget everything and focus on the cultural and spiritual essence of Durga Puja as the city gets ready for the grand annual celebrations. Justifiably considered the “greatest show on earth,” Durga Puja is an enormous celebration, not merely for the city but for the Bengali communities all over the world. With millions of visitors expected at this year’s functions, Hakim’s appeal underlines the urgency to maintain peace and make it a pleasant occasion for one and all.
Durga Puja: A Festival of Unmatched Grandeur
Durga Puja is the great passion of Bengalis. No other region celebrates it as Kolkata city does. The city turns into a colorful visual spectacle of artistic pandals, time-honored rituals, and euphoric rejoicing. From the magnificently sculpted form of Goddess Durga to the enthralling beat of the dhak (the traditional drum), everything associated with the festival reflects pride in their culture and community bonding.
Thousands of pandals (temporary structures) spring up every year to depict breathtaking art forms, often within the theme of social, environment, and religious discourse. The celebration cuts across religious boundaries as people come together from every stratum to revel in the spirit of unity and harmony.
Mayor Firhad Hakim Calls Upon to Live with Unity and Peace
In his appeal, Mayor Firhad Hakim has asked Puja to be protest-free. He requested people not to indulge in any kind of demonstration or disruption that might hamper the mood of the festival. It is very important to keep the environment peaceful at a time when millions are expected to pass through the city during the festive days. Hakim’s appeal is well-timed as Durga Puja is not only religious but also an economic and cultural event which features at the global platform.
“Durga Puja is the greatest show on earth, and it is our responsibility to make sure that the celebration should be peaceful. It is a good time to celebrate the fest while focusing on the joy and unity this festival brings,” said the mayor.
Economic Impact of Durga Puja
It is something more than a religious festival, and Durga Puja has an intense economic role in the economy of Kolkata. During this festival time, thousands of travelers come to witness the grandeur and it boosts tourism. All hotels, restaurants, and local businesses swell with activities, and artisans, craftsmen, and pandal makers work day and night to make the festival colorful.
UNESCO announced the year 2021 as marking Durga Puja as “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” This gave Durga Puja a much more global standing. The cultural richness of the festival is well and sufficiently compensated by such a statement, and international presence of the festival is increased with a motivational increase in tourist visits and boost to revenue.
Need for a Protest-Free Environment
Firhad Hakim’s demand for a protest-free festival arises from his perception that disturbances at Durga Puja festivals have adverse implications not only on the celebratory mood but also on the economy. The last few years saw sporadic protests and political unrest during the festival, raising issues of safety and security.
He said that due to the effort for peace and unification, the Durga Puja of this year would not face any untoward activities, and devotees and visitors would be able to participate in the festival to its full length. “Durga Puja should be a festival of our culture and traditions and not a field for protest or discord,” said Hakim .
Security and Safety Preparedness
To ensure that Durga Puja is celebrated peacefully and without any hitch, the Kolkata Police, in conjunction with state-level authorities, have strengthened the security system. Advanced crowd management systems have been installed at important pandals all over the city to manage enormous crowds. At certain points, law enforcement officials have been put in place to facilitate the smooth movement of traffic, crowd control, and above all, safety and security for the visitors.
The authorities are also observing the protocols set up for COVID-19, including vaccination campaigns and safety regulations. The festival has regained a level of scale again since the time of the pandemic. This year will be larger and more ostentatious in scale.
Kolkata’s Devotion to the Tradition of Innovation
It can be said that the ancient Durga Puja is going through a change; it is still an old ritual, but with the age of innovation and modernity, it will be performed in new and innovative ways. This year, pandals are expected to cater more towards issues related to climate change, gender equality, mental health, among many other things, using only eco-friendly materials. In some pandals, there has also been a virtual tour wherein devotees sitting from another corner of the world can participate in celebrating the festival.
The call for a puja free from protests would fit aptly into the overall ideology of the festival, inclusive and harmonious examples of unity: a peaceful atmosphere would allow the city of Kolkata to set an example of how tradition and innovation and community can come together in one of the world’s greatest cultural celebrations.
Conclusion: Peaceful Grand Celebration
Durga Puja is not a festival for Kolkata alone but an fantastic spectacle of the rich tapestry of India. A plea made by Mayor Firhad Hakim to celebrate a protest-free Durga Puja demonstrates a need to salvage the festivities that are meant to be full of gaiety and peacefulness. As the “greatest show on earth” prepares to captivate millions, the focus will be on celebrating unity, culture, and tradition, ensuring a memorable experience for all.
More security measures and the commitment on the side of local authorities, this Durga Puja this year is destined to be the grandest ever; and as such, it will remind the world why it holds that special place in the hearts of Bengalis and beyond.
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