Kolkata: Several pujas have adopted themes depicting a social message. Some have also taken up measures to assist disabled visitors. Among arrangements, there are specially-designed entry points, ramps, wheelchairs and a ‘silent room’ for autistic kids.A puja at Kashi Bose Lane has incorporated two themes: ‘Gyanchokkhu’ or the third eye, and ‘Adim’, an ancient way of life in Maharashtra.Samajsebi Sangha, which has Mahanayak Uttam Kumar’s centenary as its theme, has created a separate entrance for disabled visitors, with an inclined platform and a wheelchair ramp.“The pathway will lead to every corner of the pandal so that the disabled have access to the entire area. For the visually impaired, we will have guides who will escort them around the pandal,” said Arijit Maitra, general secretary of Samajsebi Sangha.The Kashi Bose Lane puja committee will be using braille to help the visually-impaired enjoy and take part in their puja. “From the entry point to offering Anjali and chanting stotras, we shall be providing a braille script to the visuall-impaired visitors,” said Soumen Dutta, general secretary of the Kashi Bose Lane committee.“As part of the theme, we have started collecting old books from every home in the neighbourhood and will be distributing them among libraries and underprivileged children,” added Dutta.“Books have the ability to open minds, broaden perspectives and connect people with new worlds. Through this initiative, we hope to encourage the sharing of books and make the experience of Durga Puja more inclusive for everyone,” said Shivam Agarwal, head – marketing and strategy, of Doctors’ Choice, which is supporting the initiative.The participating visually-impaired children will be gifted with the copies of the Braille Durga Puja book.Shibmandir Sarbojonin Durgotsav Samity, one of the biggest draws of south Kolkata in Mudiali, will be organising pandal visits for underprivileged children and the visually-impaired. “We have tied up with a couple of organisations. We will organise these trips on all puja days. We run a school for the underprivileged children and every year they hold a cultural programme that flags off our celebrations. This year has been no different,” said Partha Ghosh, secretary of Shibmamity.Mudiali has Jaipur’s streetscape and the colours of Gangaur, the state’s spring festival, as its theme this year.
