Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 SEPT.: A committee comprising Hindu, Muslim and Dalit members organised a Durga Puja, set aside from most others.

This small-budget Puja on KJ Sanyal road in English Bazaar town attracted huge crowds, for its uniqueness alone.

The Malda Press Photographers’ Association (MPPA) today announced that the puja committee was one of the best, judging it on the creative aspect.

The association has selected six best puja committees in the English Bazaar town out of the other 100 puja committees, who have performed well within a small budget.

In 2007 a group of Hindu, Muslim and Dalit people started their puja at Gazole taxi stand without even a proper permission from the administration.

The secretary of the Gazole Taxi Stand puja committee, Mr Bobby Ahmed said: “A small group of Hindu people who reside in this area wanted to organise puja here but they could not do it because the area was dominated by other castes like Dalit (Harijans) and Muslims. But we took the initiative to form a committee comprising more than 50 members and decided to arrange a puja here from 2007. Now we are happy because all families are enjoying here together.”

The assistant secretary of this puja committee, Mr Debasish Chanda said: “Our budget is only Rs 70,000. We have conceived a theme based on rural Bengal where poor people organise the biggest festival of state ~ Durga puja”.

Apart from the Gazole taxi stand puja committee, the MPPA has also selected five other puja committees such as Nat Mandir located at Hansagiri lane in a red light area, Baghajatin club in No 2 government colony, Jhankar club on BS Road, Mahananda club on Bandh Road and Mangal Samiti at Gayespur.

These small budget puja committees have been selected by the members of MPPA for creativity, environment of the pandal and presentation of the entire look in a disciplined manner who will be awarded Sarad Samman -2009.