Chandrayaan-3 and Anti-Ragging Take Center Stage Among Kolkata Durga Puja Themes This Year
As the whole country continues to celebrate Chandrayaan-3's success, a Durga puja committee in Kolkata has decided to design its pandal modelled on lander Vikram which touched down on the lunar south pole on August 23.
Amidst the nationwide celebration of Chandrayaan-3's remarkable success, a Durga Puja committee in Kolkata has made a unique decision to construct their pandal, or temporary decorative structure, inspired by the lunar lander Vikram, which achieved a historic landing on the lunar south pole on August 23.
The Pallir Jubak Brinda Club, situated on Sitaram Ghosh Street in north Kolkata, has embarked on the ambitious project of creating a larger-than-life replica of the Vikram lander to serve as the centerpiece of their pandal. The pandal will feature an artistic representation of Goddess Durga seated inside the lander, set against a backdrop that mimics the lunar surface.
A spokesperson for the Puja committee expressed their enthusiasm, stating, "During the festive season, visitors will have the opportunity to witness Maa Durga seated within the meticulously crafted lander model, perched on a surface reminiscent of the moon." The committee further revealed their plan to inaugurate the puja with the participation of the father of an ISRO scientist who was closely involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
August 23 marked a historic moment for India, as ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 successfully achieved a lunar landing, making India the fourth country in the world to accomplish this remarkable feat. Furthermore, it was the first mission to reach the unexplored south pole of Earth's natural satellite, the moon. The pandal project is a heartfelt tribute to the achievements of ISRO and the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
In another part of Kolkata, the Naktala Udayan Sangha is taking a different approach to their pandal theme. Their focus will be on raising awareness about the grave issue of ragging and advocating for a zero-tolerance policy against this form of bullying in educational institutions.
Anjan Samaddar, a member of the Puja committee, explained, "The tragic incident of a Jadavpur University student's death, allegedly due to ragging and physical abuse by seniors, deeply shook us all. Our puja aims to emphasize the importance of preventing any form of ragging and bullying within educational institutions."
The unfortunate incident involved a 17-year-old student from Nadia, an undergraduate studying arts at Jadavpur University, who tragically lost his life on August 10 after falling from the second-floor balcony of the boys' hostel. It was reported that he had endured severe ragging and physical abuse by his senior peers at the hostel in the days leading up to his tragic demise.
These two distinctive pandal themes reflect the local community's deep respect for the achievements of ISRO and their commitment to addressing critical societal issues like ragging and bullying within educational institutions.
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