Manicktalla Chaltabagan Puja’s theme pitches Kolkata for UNESCO's “City of Literature” honour

“Last year Chaltabagan had invited the leading authors and poets of Bengal to the puja. This year we have kept the Tagore theme because we want UNESCO to declare Kolkata as the first UNESCO designated 'City of Literature' in India for which efforts already begun in many quarters. I personally think, given the literary heritage, diversity and richness, Kolkata is one of the strongest contenders for such recognition by UNESCO,” said Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman, Chaltabagan Durga Puja Committee.

UNESCO’ City of Literature programme is part of its Creative Cities Network launched in 2004. Among the cities that have already been declared “City of Literature” includes Baghdad (Iraq), Milan (Italy), Norwich (UK), Edinburgh (Scotland), Prague (Czech Republic), Melbourne (Australia), Granada and Barcelona (Spain), Iowa City (USA), Dublin (Ireland), Krakow (Poland), Raykjavic (Iceland), Heidelberg (Germany), Quebec (Canada) and so on.

Cities submit bids to UNESCO to be designated the City of Literature. These are monitored and reviewed every four years by UNESCO.

Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja - one of Kolkata’s leading Pujas of Kolkata – was inaugurated by Sudip Bandhopadhyay, MP, in the presence of Sundeep Bhutoria, Chairman of Chaltabagan Puja Committee,  Sadhan Pandey, Minister in Charge, Consumer Affairs,  Smita Bakshi, MLA, Gauri Basu, Director, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Minakshi Gupta and other dignitaries.

The crew of the film Byomkesh Gotra including Director Arindam Sil, Abir Chatterjee, Bickram Ghosh, Anjan Dutta were present among others at the puja mandap. A chau dance was also performed at the venue by EZCC-empanelled artistes.

On the other hand, the theme is unique in the sense that Goddess Durga fills in the spiritual space of the people of the region, Rabindranath Tagore is one of the biggest icons of Bengal. The whole puja mandap is a tribute to Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore.

The motifs and reliefs at the Chaltabagan pandal conveys Tagore’s universal message of peace and harmony which beautifully blends in with the religious ambiance of the puja mandap. The innovative display of books at mandap’s ceiling was much appreciated by the guests and visitors.

Over the years Chaltabagan Puja has many firsts to its credit having popularized events like khunti puja, sindur khela, dhak mahotsav in Kolkata. The Puja Committee is also engaged in various social welfare activities during the Pujas including helping the marginalised and providing medical assistance to the needy.

Chaltabagan puja has also used solar lights extensively to light up the mandap at night. Manicktalla Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja is being celebrated since 1943. It has been able to maintain its unique artistic identity by presenting new themes that are beautiful, innovative, and environment-friendly.

This Puja has won several awards over the years for its innovative themes. Some of them were – use of brass work engraved on wood; use of coconut shells in 2015; glass in 2011; Mughal style in 2010; Mahabharat chariot in 2006 among several other unique and environment-friendly themes.