The Disaster

The Bengali festival is one of the most awaited festivals of the year. Families gather and enjoy this festive season with all their heart, sharing smiles and joy. The pandals created in the parks attract tens of thousands of viewers.  The pandals depict certain themes and the enthusiastic viewers gaze at the gigantic creations of man’s creative mind. The fierce competition among the clubs creates an excitement among the organizers who try their best to top the list. The main motive behind this pandal creation is to spread joy and unite people of various class, caste and groups. They all unite in the name of Durga Pujo.

One of the greatest tragedies of 2015 was chosen as a theme for a pandal created in Kumortuli Park. The earthquake that shook Nepal and killed half of the residents captivated the entire world. Governments of various countries sent reinforcement troops to rescue the victims. With each passing day, the news headlines would increase the death toll than it was the previous day. This tragic disaster was depicted as a theme in the Durga Pujo Pandal. Broken houses with blood splattered all around. Broken temples. A car half soaked in mud with blood stains at the back of its trunk. Beside all that was a helicopter with Indian flag at its tail. Death and destruction was al around us.

What I did not understand was that how can this work of art was supposed to depict joy and festivity? I even witnessed the viewers awed at the ‘beauty’ of the painted thermocol while taking pictures from their expensive smartphones. I wondered who is more demented. The makers or the viewers who were encouraging the hypocrites? It was depressing to realize how low mankind can hit that a country’s downfall was depicted as a Pujo theme.