Maa Durga’s Pain, VIP Passes for Doctors & Models of Spine: Bengal’s Durga Puja Pandals Seek Justice Through Art

West Bengal’s famed Durga Puja celebrations this year are all about justice for the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital.

On Wednesday, as the state marked Mahalaya, the students of RG KAR unveiled a sculpture of the victim and said the bust would remind them of the gruesome case. Speaking to News18, Dr Aniketh Mahato said: “We want to be reminded of this pain every day so that such an incident is never repeated. For us, the festival season this time is all about protests.”

The effect of the incident can be seen in pandals across the state. While some have refused the state government’s aid of Rs 85,000, others have showcased models of a spine to drive home the message that society must take a stand against such crimes. In Baguihati, special VIP passes have been arranged by puja organisers for doctors who carried out protests demanding justice.

Another pandal in Kolkata resonates with the ‘We want justice’ theme. The black-coloured pandal shows Maa Durga covering her eyes with her hands after seeing the condition of the RG Kar victim. The organiser of the pandal is Biswajit Sarkar, the brother of Abhijit Sarkar who, according to BJP, was killed in post-poll violence. Speaking to News18, Sarkar said: “Rape is a common phenomenon of Bengal and RG KAR is the latest addition to the list. We are seeking justice through our pandal.” This puja will be inaugurated by BJP’s Suvendhu Adhikari.

At other places across the city, students took out a huge rally and lit up diyas in the Ganga for the victim.

Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has started inaugurating Durga Puja pandals. While she is personally visiting the pandals in Kolkata, she has virtually inaugurated some set-ups across districts.