For the past three years, the residents of Om Skylark Housing in Tala Park, North Kolkata, have been organizing Durga Puja celebrations with great enthusiasm. This year, the pandal has been designed to resemble the Red Fort in Delhi, while last year’s theme paid homage to the Kedarnath Temple. Along with their festive celebrations, the residents have consistently shown a commitment to social causes, offering financial aid to acid attack survivors and donating essential medicines and supplies to the Ramakrishna Mission.
However, this year, in light of the recent tragic incident at R.G. Kar Medical College, the residents have decided to forgo any grandeur and celebrate in a more subdued manner. Actor Bonny Sengupta was the chief guest at the inauguration, which took place on Maha Panchami afternoon.
The Om Skylark Housing community consists of around 150 families, both Bengali and non-Bengali. They come together during the festive days to share meals and host cultural events. The main aim of the celebration is to foster social unity and strengthen community bonds. The residents find unity in diversity through this shared experience.
Arun Patodia, the secretary of the Puja committee, despite a personal family loss, has been actively involved in the preparations. Committee President Asim Saha explained that several renowned doctors live in the complex, and given the recent sorrowful events, everyone is emotionally affected. However, they remain committed to their annual worship of the Goddess, taking on the Puja with sincerity and without any pomp this year.
The organizing responsibilities are being overseen by one of the residents, Rakesh Kumar Pandey, who is ensuring a smooth and meaningful celebration for all.
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