Kolkata: Allen Park made its debut as a puja venue on Monday as chief minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated the first-ever Durga Puja on Park Street this year, bringing a new festive attraction to the party street landmark long associated with Kolkata’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.Adhikari reached Allen park at 10.45 pm and played dhak while inaugurating the puja, organised by Kolkata Sanatani Sangha. He was accompanied by junior union minister Sukanta Majumdar and state cabinet ministers Arjun Singh and Umesh Rai. “On Park Street, the nuisance of the ‘Tukde-Tukde gang’ used to occur from time to time. Today, with the arrival of Maa Durga, the entire Park Street has become holy and pure,” said CM Adhikari after the inauguration.“An entirely nationalist team is present here before you today. They have brought Kashi Vishwanath right here. Nabadwip Dham is right here. The sound of blowing the conch is here. The dhak is here. The aarti is also here,” he added.The organisers said they plan to hold the grand aarti every evening from Chaturthi to Dashami, alongside prasad distribution and cultural programmes showcasing Bengal’s diverse traditions, including Baul music and performances inspired by Purulia, Bankura and North Bengal. “South Kolkata has grand pujas and north Kolkata has its own beautiful celebrations, but central Kolkata had none. Local residents are enthusiastic about the initiative,” said BJP general secretary Navin Mishra, secretary of the puja committee.Prior to Allen Park, Adhikari inaugurated a series of pujas across Kolkata, beginning with Tala Pratyay and Chorbagan Sarbojanin. His itinerary included the puja organised by Biswajit Sarkar at Kankurgachhi Railside, followed by Santoshpur Lake Pally, Chetla Agrani Club, Behala Arunoday Samity, Kidderpore 25 Pally, Bhowanipore Mukto Dal Club and Rupchand Mukherjee Lane puja.Recalling his association with the Tala area between 2009 and 2012, he said: “Artificiality is out of this puja after many years and normalcy has returned.” At Chorbagan, he accused the previous govt of failing to show due respect to the family of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, the voice associated with Mahisasuramardini. Adhikari also announced plans to rename a road after Kartik Maharaj and install his statue.
