“This time is different,” thundered Mr. Chatterjee, “You all know what is happening in the city. We cannot ignore all of that and celebrate. We must have a social consciousness.”
“Yes, this will be a very different Durga Puja this year. A pall of gloom is floating over Kolkata,” agreed Mrs. Roy.
“However, we must celebrate the Puja. A huge part of the working populace depends on it,” Mrs. Bose proffered an opinion.
“Of course, we will,” declared Mr. Chatterjee, “But with a difference.”
Mr. Chatterjee is the president of the residents’ association for a prominent housing complex in South Kolkata.
It was a Sunday morning when the association members were meeting about the impending Durga Puja celebrations in the complex.
The conversation, however, veered toward the Durga Puja preparations in the community..
Durga Puja Empowers Everyone
Durga Puja comes once a year and it empowers everyone with uplifting joy. A gated community is no different.
After all, a gated community is an extended family.
Everyone’s joys and sorrows touch everyone else.
In this way, joy is multiplied, and sharing difficulties empowers residents to deal with crises together.
Despite the general gloom hanging over the city this year, the citizens expect the Pujas will rejuvenate them.
The city is preparing for the biggest festival in Kolkata, and residential complexes are not far behind.
Time to Beautify Our Homes
We consider Goddess Durga as our daughter who comes to our homes every year with her children.
We prepare for her arrival by cleaning and beautifying our homes. Often, the house gets a coat of paint during this time.
It is also the time to change curtains and upholsteries to give a makeover to even a mundane existence.
In the same manner, this is the time to clean the entire area and beautify it. Deweed the gardens, and apply a fresh coat of paint wherever necessary.
Usually, Durga Puja is organized at a fixed place every year in a housing complex and that area is cleaned and beautified.
Financial Arrangements for the Puja
Nowadays, financial planning is extremely important for a community Puja.
Generally, in gated communities, residents join together for lunch (and sometimes, dinner) and this needs a considerable financial outlay. It is important to raise the finances from the society members and sponsorships quite early and award the food contract to a caterer.
Besides the community lunch, there are various expenditures in Durga Puja. There needs an elaborate arrangement to organize everything smoothly.
You can leave nothing to chance. You cannot afford to forget to arrange 108 lotuses and diyas before Sandhi Puja.
Elaborate Management
Organizing Durga Puja needs elaborate planning.
This is why Mr. Chatterjee is always worried till the end of the Puja. He is always concerned about whether he missed delegating responsibility to anyone.
Mr. Chatterjee’s son stays in Bangalore but returns to spend the Puja days in the community every year.
He always takes up the major responsibility of mobilizing funds and supervising all arrangements.
Delegating the responsibility of buying all necessary items for the Puja and the community kitchen, arranging lights and sound, and even organizing a cultural function just after the Pujas.
In Full Swing
Only a few days are pending before the Pujas.
Preparations are almost at the final leg.
The idols are almost finished, and the committee members actually verified that.
Shopping is also almost complete. From incense sticks to ghee for the diyas were bought, decoration items to lights were arranged. Everyone is ready for the anjali on Ashtami Day and the community lunch.
Endless Addas and Fun
Durga Puja means endless addas and fun for all Bengalis. Addas happen everywhere — at the Puja pandal, at the residents’ club, at the community hall, or even at someone’s home.
Then there is the need for snacks that go with the addas. Most residential societies have chaat/phuchka/fritter stalls during these days.
Nowadays, most young members of housing societies stay in different cities, mostly away from Bengal. However, Durga Puja brings them together in Kolkata communities with their families and friends.
Gated communities have a distinct advantage over standalone buildings in this respect. They have sufficient space to organize the Puja, community kitchen, addas, and food stalls.
Because of the large number of residents, organizing Durga Puja is also economically viable.
This is one festival that passes by the residents of standalone buildings. They miss the feeling of togetherness and involvement of Durga Puja in a gated community.
