Covid pandemic, life during lockdown find expression in pandals across Kolkata

KOLKATA: The Covid-19 pandemic, the abrupt lockdown and the gradual unlocking have, in different ways, found expression across Puja pandals in the city. From the plight of refugees robbed of livelihood to a city gradually waking up from slumber, theme artists have used various metaphors to portray the surreal that is now the new reality.
Lockdown is the theme at Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha in north-east Kolkata. Artist Parimal Pal has used a huge clock that has stopped ticking to depict how time froze when the lockdown was enforced. He has also taken help of a world-famous sculpture — The Thinker by Auguste Rodin — to portray introspection.
“For months, we were captive in our homes and lived in uncertainty. It also made us realize that mankind is responsible for what has happened. Once we make amends, we make a fresh start,” explained Pal.
Another Puja in the neighbourhood has depicted various phases of unlock. Artist Anirban Das has created a giant tea kettle, milk cans and a cut-out of a cat stretching itself to portray a city walking up from deep slumber.
In Behala, theme artist Rintu Das has brought to life the struggle that immigrant workers faced when the lockdown was imposed. In those desperate times, anyone who handed out relief was god. “At Barisha Club, we have depicted Durga as a migrant worker queuing up to seek relief with children in tow,” Das said. The riveting idol of the migrant Durga has been crafted by Krishnagore artisan Pallab Bhowmick.
Migrant workers also find a place at the Salt Lake AK Block puja where artist Samrat Bhattacharya has teamed up with artisans Purnendu Pal and Subimal De to recreate scenes of the journey across the country on foot.
At Chetla Agrani, Anirban Das has used two metaphors to depict the present that is filled with trepidation. Here, the goddess with an earthen lamp stands resolute before Mahakaal, shielding a large bird in flight. “The bird represents humans, the lamp signifies hope. Durga is shielding us from the destroyer and urging us to carry on the fight against the pandemic,” he explained.
Finally, Coronasura, that TOI had written about when artist Indrajit Pal had conceived it a month ago, is complete. The devil lies in the detail — in this case, the spiked virus that infests his hair. Pal has created an intricate asura and said he will be delighted if it becomes the most-despised one ever.